Which type of cell division results in a spermatid?

Spermatids are the result of meiosis, specifically the second meiotic division, which occurs during the process of spermatogenesis in males. This process involves two rounds of cell division—meiosis I and meiosis II. During meiosis I, a diploid spermatogonium undergoes division to produce two haploid secondary spermatocytes. These secondary spermatocytes then undergo meiosis II, resulting in four haploid spermatids, which eventually mature into spermatozoa.

In this context, meiosis is essential for generating genetic diversity through recombination and independent assortment, fundamental characteristics of gametes. Each spermatid contains half the number of chromosomes compared to the original spermatogonium, therefore ensuring that when fertilization occurs, the resulting zygote will have the correct diploid number.

The other options do not relate to the formation of spermatids. Mitosis produces two identical daughter cells and is involved in growth and repair, binary fission is a form of asexual reproduction used by prokaryotes, and bud formation is a type of asexual reproduction seen in certain eukaryotic organisms. All these processes are different from the specific meiotic process that generates spermatids.