Sexual reproduction

 Sexual reproduction is the process of formation of the male and female gametes,

either by the same individual or by different individuals of the opposite sex.

These gametes fuse to form the zygote which develops to form the new organism.

Compared to asexual reproduction, it is complex and slow process.
Because of the fusion of male and female gametes,
sexual reproduction results in offspring that are not identical to the parents.

All organisms reaches a certain stage of growth and maturity in their life, before they can reproduce sexually.

That period of growth is called the juvenile phase and known as vegetative phase in plants.
This phase is of variable durations in different organisms.

Events in sexual reproduction:
Sexual reproduction is characterised by the fusion (or fertilisation) of the male and female gametes, the formation of zygote and embryogenesis.

These sequential events are grouped into three distinct stages ,
the pre-fertilisation,fertilisation and post-fertilisation events.