What is meiosis?

Master KS3 Science with Cells Test. Dive into detailed explanations, flashcards, and varied question formats. Enhance your cell biology knowledge!

Meiosis is a specialized type of cell division crucial for sexual reproduction, where it results in the formation of gametes—sperm in males and eggs in females. This process reduces the chromosome number by half, ensuring that when fertilization occurs, the resulting zygote has the full set of chromosomes, combining genetic material from both parents.

During meiosis, a single diploid cell undergoes two rounds of division, ultimately producing four haploid cells, each with half the number of chromosomes compared to the original cell. This reduction is vital for maintaining the species' chromosome number across generations.

Understanding meiosis and its role in gamete production is essential for grasping concepts related to heredity and genetic diversity, making option B the correct choice.

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