Organisms of many species are specialized into male and
female varieties, each known as a sex. Sexual reproduction involves the combining and mixing of genetic traits: specialized cells known as gametes combine to form offspring that inherit traits from each parent. The gametes produced by an organism
define its sex: males produce small gametes (
e.g. spermatozoa, or
sperm, in animals) while females produce large gametes (ova, or
egg cells). Individual organisms which produce both male and
female gametes are termed hermaphroditic. Gametes can be identical in form and function (known as isogamy), but, in many cases, an asymmetry has evolved such that two different types of gametes (heterogametes) exist (known as anisogamy).
Physical differences are often associated with the different sexes of an organism; these sexual dimorphisms can reflect the different reproductive pressures the sexes experience. For instance, mate choice and sexual selection can accelerate the
evolution of physical differences between the sexes.