Question

Meiosis is the process that produces haploid sex cells called gametes. Why does chromosome number need to be halved for gamete formation?

Answer 1

In the process of Meiosis, chromosome number is halved for gamete formation because gametes are haploid cells that contain only one set of chromosomes. This process is critical as, without it, the union of two gametes during fertilizations would result in offspring with twice the normal number of chromosomes (each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 46). The gametes produced with half the chromosome number of their parent cells are fused together to form diploid cells.