The only cells in the body that are divided by meiosis are germ cells, also known as gametes. These are the cells that give rise to sperm and egg cells.

Here's why:

* Meiosis is a specialized cell division process that produces haploid cells (cells with half the number of chromosomes). This is crucial for sexual reproduction because it ensures that the offspring receives one set of chromosomes from each parent.

* Sperm and egg cells are haploid cells. When they fuse during fertilization, they create a diploid zygote with a full set of chromosomes.

* Somatic cells (all other cells in the body) divide by mitosis, which produces two identical diploid daughter cells. This is necessary for growth and repair but doesn't involve the creation of gametes.