Here's a breakdown of why:
* Somatic cells are diploid, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes (one from each parent).
* Gametes are haploid, meaning they have only one set of chromosomes.
* Meiosis is a specialized type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number from diploid to haploid. This ensures that when a sperm and egg cell fuse during fertilization, the resulting zygote will have the correct number of chromosomes (one set from each parent).
Meiosis involves two rounds of division:
* Meiosis I: Homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange genetic material (crossing over), then separate, resulting in two haploid daughter cells.
* Meiosis II: Sister chromatids within each daughter cell separate, resulting in four haploid gametes.
Therefore, meiosis is crucial for maintaining the correct chromosome number across generations and contributing to genetic diversity.
