Here's why:
* Meiosis is a specialized type of cell division that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms to produce gametes (sperm and egg cells). It involves two rounds of division:
* Meiosis I: Homologous chromosomes (one from each parent) pair up and exchange genetic material (crossing over). Then, the homologous pairs separate, reducing the chromosome number by half.
* Meiosis II: Sister chromatids (identical copies of a chromosome) separate, resulting in four haploid daughter cells (gametes).
* Mitosis is the process of cell division that produces two identical daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. It is involved in growth and repair, but not in the formation of gametes.
Therefore, meiosis is the only process that directly leads to the formation of cells with half the genetic material (haploid) compared to the parent cell (diploid).
