Final answer:
Meiosis is the process by which haploid gametes (sperm and eggs) are produced, halving the chromosome number from the parent cell and resulting in four genetically unique daughter cells. This process includes two stages, Meiosis I and Meiosis II, and introduces genetic diversity through crossing-over and random alignment of chromosomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Meiosis is a crucial process in sexual reproduction, necessary for the production of haploid gametes, such as sperm in males and eggs in females. During meiosis, the chromosome number is halved, resulting in the generation of gametes that contain just one set of chromosomes (haploid), as opposed to diploid body cells that have pairs of chromosomes. In humans, this means the gametes have 23 individual chromosomes each.
Meiosis consists of two consecutive phases: Meiosis I and Meiosis II. Meiosis I include homologous chromosomes being separated, while Meiosis II is akin to mitosis, where sister chromatids are divided. This two-stage division leads to the creation of four unique haploid daughter cells from a single original parent cell.
Diversity is introduced during meiosis through events like crossing-over during prophase I and the random alignment of chromosomes during metaphase I. These processes result in genetically distinct gametes, which is essential for the genetic variation observed in sexually reproducing populations.