meiosis
cell division process by which haploid sex cells are created from diploid cells
Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in half, resulting in the formation of gametes (sex cells) in sexually reproducing organisms. It involves two successive divisions called meiosis I and meiosis II, producing four genetically diverse haploid cells from one diploid cell.
Meiosis I involves the separation of homologous pairs of chromosomes (one chromosome from each parent) and results in the formation of two haploid daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. Meiosis II involves the separation of sister chromatids, resulting in the formation of four haploid cells with unique combinations of genetic material.
Meiosis plays a crucial role in sexual reproduction, as the union of two gametes during fertilization leads to the formation of a diploid zygote with a unique combination of genetic information from both parents. It also enables the creation of genetic diversity within a population through independent assortment, crossing over, and random fertilization.
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