Question

Explain the significance of meiosis in sexual reproduction

Answer 1

Answer: Meiosis produces the sex cells, that is the gametes (sperm cells and eggs) that unite to form a zygote. Meiosis ensures that the gametes have have haploid chromosomes so that the resulting zygote from their fusion will have diploid chromosomes.

Explanation: Meiosis is a type of cell division in which a cell divides twice to produce four daughter cells each with the half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. Without meiosis new gametes are not produced. Meiosis ensures that the chromosomes are evenly distributed among the daughter cells and that each daughter cell contains 23 chromosomes. A sperm cell with 23 chromosomes fuses with an egg with 23 chromosomes to form a zygote with 46 chromosomes. If meiosis does not occur, gametes with haploid chromosomes will not be produced, and if the gametes have diploid chromosomes because meiosis does not occur, sexual reproduction will be a disaster because when two diploid gametes fuse the resulting zygote with be abnormal.