Here's a breakdown of why:
* Haploid: Sex cells have half the number of chromosomes as regular body cells (diploid).
* Meiosis: This is a special type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half. It involves two rounds of division:
* Meiosis I: Homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange genetic material (crossing over), then separate.
* Meiosis II: Sister chromatids of each chromosome separate, resulting in four haploid daughter cells (gametes).
Therefore, meiosis is the fundamental process responsible for creating the haploid sex cells necessary for sexual reproduction.
