maintains chromosome number throughout generations
causes genetic recombination
causes genetic variation
Meiosis is a type of cell division in which one cell divides to form four daughter cells, each carrying exactly half the chromosomal number of the parent cell.
It is mainly used in the formation of gametes in organisms which reproduce sexually.
The fusion of gametes restores the original chromosome number. Thus, it helps in maintaining the chromosome number throughout generations. In absence of meiosis, the chromosome number would have doubled after each fertilization event or after each generation.
In addition, events like random segregation of chromosomes and crossing over cause genetic recombination as well as genetic variation.
Meiosis is the process of cell division by which involving gametes. Cell division is just the same for sperm and egg cells, but they have distinguishable descriptions and labels in the process. Spermatogenesis is for the males’ sperm cells and oogenesis is the process for females’ egg cells. The cell division of meiosis involves the two phases, respectively meiosis I and meiosis II. Meiosis I like mitosis is the cell division that produces diploid cells<span>. These diploid cells are cells that contain a complete pair of chromosomes which is 46. The result is two diploid cells after the first meiosis. To provide clear explanation, in contrast haploid cells only contain 23 chromosomes and are created after meiosis II which is 4 in number. </span>
