Answer:
The meiosis phase is a part of the cell division process that occurs in reproductive cells, resulting in the formation of gametes (sperm and eggs) with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
During meiosis, there are two main phases: meiosis I and meiosis II.
In meiosis I:
1. Prophase I: The chromosomes condense, and homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange genetic material in a process called crossing over. This genetic recombination increases genetic diversity.
2. Metaphase I: The homologous chromosome pairs align along the center of the cell.
3. Anaphase I: The homologous chromosomes separate and move to opposite ends of the cell.
4. Telophase I: The cell starts to divide into two daughter cells.
In meiosis II:
1. Prophase II: The chromosomes condense again, and the nuclear envelope breaks down.
2. Metaphase II: The chromosomes align along the center of each daughter cell.
3. Anaphase II: The sister chromatids separate and move to opposite ends of the cell.
4. Telophase II: The cell divides, resulting in a total of four haploid daughter cells (gametes) with half the number of chromosomes.
In summary, meiosis is a two-step process that reduces the number of chromosomes in reproductive cells. Meiosis I separates homologous chromosomes, while meiosis II separates sister chromatids. The end result is the formation of gametes with half the number of chromosomes, which is important for sexual reproduction and genetic diversity
Step-by-step explanation: