What is meiosis?

Meiosis is the process specifically responsible for the formation of sex cells, or gametes, which include sperm and eggs in animals. This type of cell division occurs in specialized reproductive organs and results in cells that have half the number of chromosomes compared to the original cell. This reduction is crucial for sexual reproduction because it ensures that when two gametes fuse during fertilization, the resulting zygote has the correct diploid number of chromosomes.

During meiosis, the original cell undergoes two rounds of division—meiosis I and meiosis II—which leads to the production of four genetically diverse haploid cells from one diploid cell. This genetic diversity is important for evolution and adaptation in populations. In contrast to other biological processes, meiosis is distinct because it specifically reduces the chromosome number by half and introduces genetic variation through recombination and independent assortment.

Understanding this process highlights its fundamental role in sexual reproduction and the continuation of species, as well as its importance in the study of genetics and heredity.