In: Biology
Meiosis is a process by which a single cell divides into 4 daughter cells. The purpose of meiosis is only to produce gametes (sex cells). In the process of spermatogenesis all 4 of the daughter cells are equal, but in the process of oogenesis only one of the cells becomes an egg. The other 3 cells are polar bodies and they disintegrate. Meiosis has 2 separate divisions and this allows for the reduction in the number of chromosomes. Meiosis occurs only in sexually reproducing organisms.
The other form of cell division that takes place in humans is called mitosis and it results in 2 cells that are identical to the original cell. The purpose of mitosis is growth and repair.
Why is it necessary to reduce the number of chromosomes in gametes?
Meiosis is areduction divison that is necessary in sexually reproducing organisms to maintain the species number of chromosomes. gametes, or sex cells must have half the chromosomes that the parent cell has. at fertilizatio, two gametes fuse together to form the offspring. if these gametes had the same number of chromosomes as the parent does, each generation would have double the chromosomes as the previous generation did. To, prevent that meiosis occurs in gonads - ovaries or testes. If the ovary or test cell is diploid(2n) , the gametes or sex cells - sperm and egg will be haploid (n) after meiosis occurs. For example, if a human teste or ovary cell has 46 chromosome , replication occurs. The result will be 46 pairs or 92 chromosomes. MEiosis has two round of cell division - meiosis 1 and 2. After meiosis 1, takes place two daughter cells, each with 46 chromosomes are the result. After meiosis 2, each of these daughter cells divide and 4 diploid cells are result. In this example, they will each have 23 chromosomes or the haploid amount. These can be used as gametes, sperm or egg cells during sexual reproduction. In the case of males , all 4 haploid cells will develop into sperm. In the case of females, only one becomes the ova or egg, and other 3 cells are polar bodies.