meiosis

Meiosis is a special process that occurs in reproductive cells—sperm and eggs—to produce offspring. It involves one cell dividing twice, resulting in four cells, each with half the usual number of chromosomes. This reduction is essential for sexual reproduction, as when sperm and egg unite, they form a new cell with a complete set of chromosomes. During meiosis, genetic material is shuffled and exchanged, creating genetic diversity. Overall, meiosis ensures that offspring have a mix of traits from both parents and maintains the stability of the species' chromosome number across generations.