* Meiosis is a type of cell division that produces gametes (sperm and egg cells) with half the number of chromosomes as the original cell. This process involves two rounds of division:
* Meiosis I: Homologous chromosomes (one from each parent) pair up and exchange genetic material through a process called crossing over. This exchange shuffles genes, creating new combinations.
* Meiosis II: Sister chromatids (identical copies of a chromosome) separate, resulting in four haploid daughter cells (gametes) each with a unique combination of genes.
* Mitosis, the other type of cell division, produces two identical daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes as the original cell. It does not involve genetic recombination.
Therefore, meiosis is the only process that directly contributes to genetic variety in cells.
