Why is Meiosis called a reduction Division?

Meiosis is called a reduction division because it reduces the chromosome number in the resulting daughter cells by half compared to the original parent cell. In organisms, most body cells are diploid (contain two sets of chromosomes—one set from each parent). During meiosis, a diploid cell undergoes two consecutive divisions, producing four haploid cells (gametes, such as sperm or eggs), each with only one set of chromosomes.

The key event responsible for this reduction occurs in Meiosis I, specifically during Anaphase I, when homologous chromosomes (pairs of similar chromosomes, one from each parent) are separated and distributed into different cells. As a result, each new cell gets only one chromosome from each pair, reducing the total chromosome count from diploid (2n) to haploid (n). This reduction is crucial so that, during fertilization, when two gametes unite, the normal diploid chromosome number is restored in the offspring.