Final answer:
If meiosis did not occur, there would be no formation of gametes, doubling of chromosome number, and no genetic variation or recombination.
Step-by-step explanation:
If meiosis did not occur, there would be several significant consequences:
- Gametes (sperm and egg cells) would not be formed, which means that sexual reproduction would not be possible.
- The number of chromosomes would not be halved, resulting in a doubling of the chromosome number with each generation, leading to genetic abnormalities and potentially non-viability of offspring.
- There would be no genetic variation or recombination, as meiosis is responsible for creating unique combinations of chromosomes through crossing over and independent assortment.