With what process do living creatures make more of themselves?

Living creatures make more of themselves through reproduction, the biological process that produces new organisms, or offspring.

Reproduction occurs in two main ways. In sexual reproduction, typically two parents contribute genetic material through specialized cells called gametes. In humans, a sperm and egg fuse during fertilization to form a zygote. In asexual reproduction, one organism produces offspring without combining genetic material with another organism; examples include bacterial cell division, budding in yeast, and cloning.

A common mix-up is confusing reproduction with growth or development. Growth makes an individual larger or more mature, while reproduction creates a new individual. Likewise, cell division is not always reproduction: it helps an organism grow and repair tissues, but in many single-celled organisms it is also the way a new organism is produced.

Reproduction is central to the continuation of every species, although individual organisms do not all reproduce in the same way. Some plants reproduce using seeds, spores, or runners, while animals may lay eggs, give birth to live young, or reproduce asexually. Sexual reproduction generally increases genetic variation; asexual reproduction is often faster and produces genetically similar offspring.