Final answer:
Meiosis is a special cell division process that occurs in the gonads, producing four unique haploid daughter cells for sexual reproduction. It consists of two stages, meiosis I and II, and ensures genetic diversity through mechanisms like crossing-over and random chromosome segregation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Meiosis is a type of cell division responsible for producing haploid gametes, which is essential for sexual reproduction. Unlike mitosis, which occurs in all types of body cells to produce identical diploid daughter cells, meiosis takes place specifically in the gonads; the ovaries in females and the testes in males. The process involves two successive cell divisions known as meiosis I and meiosis II, resulting in four genetically distinct haploid daughter cells from a single parental cell.
Each of these daughter cells contains half the number of chromosomes of the original cell. Meiosis I is the first division in which homologous chromosomes separate, while meiosis II is similar to mitosis, where sister chromatids separate. This reduction of chromosome number by half is crucial for maintaining the species' chromosome number after fertilization when two gametes unite.
In summary, meiosis produces gametes - sperm in males during spermatogenesis and eggs in females during oogenesis. The entire process contributes greatly to genetic diversity due to mechanisms like crossing-over and the random segregation of chromosomes.