Here's why:

* Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in a cell by half. It's how gametes (sperm and egg cells) are produced.

* Fertilization is the process where a sperm cell and an egg cell fuse, combining their genetic material to form a zygote with a full set of chromosomes.

Essentially, meiosis splits a cell's chromosomes, while fertilization brings them back together. They are complementary processes in the cycle of sexual reproduction.