Question

Meiosis is an essential event in the sexual life cycle of an organism. Give the reasons.

Answer 1

The process of cell division includes 2 processes, mitosis, and meiosis. Mitosis is a type of cell division in which the number of chromosomes remains the same. So, it is the equational type of cell division. In meiosis, the number of chromosomes is halved. So, it is reductional cell division. Gametes, that are the units of reproduction, are formed by the process of meiotic cell division. So, these cells are haploid in nature. Male and female gametes both are haploid. So, when male and female gametes fuse by the process of fertilization, the zygote is produced which is diploid.

So, it is because of meiosis that gametes are haploid and the zygote is diploid.