What is meiosis primarily responsible for in cell reproduction?

Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that plays a critical role in sexual reproduction. Its primary function is to produce gametes—sperm and egg cells—in organisms that reproduce sexually. During meiosis, one parent cell undergoes two rounds of division, resulting in the creation of four genetically distinct cells, each containing half the number of chromosomes of the original cell. This reduction in chromosome number is crucial because, when two gametes fuse during fertilization, they restore the diploid chromosome number necessary for the zygote to develop properly.

The process of meiosis includes two main phases: meiosis I and meiosis II. In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated, leading to a reduction in the chromosome number by half. Then, meiosis II resembles mitosis, where sister chromatids are separated, resulting in four distinct cells. This mechanism is essential for maintaining the stability of chromosome numbers across generations in sexually reproducing organisms, allowing for genetic diversity through recombination and independent assortment of chromosomes.

The other options touch on different concepts of cell division. For example, the production of two identical cells pertains to mitosis rather than meiosis, which is focused on genetic variation and halving chromosome numbers. Cloning and asexual reproduction