Why is Meiosis called reductional division?

Meiosis is called reductional division because it reduces the number of chromosomes in the daughter cells to half of the original parent cell. Meiosis is a special type of cell division that takes place in reproductive cells (germ cells). It helps in forming sperm and egg cells in animals, and pollen and ovules in plants. Meiosis creates four new cells from one parent cell, and each of these new cells has half the number of chromosomes.

What Does Reductional Division Mean?

Reductional division means a process where the chromosome number is reduced. In humans, normal body cells have 46 chromosomes. After meiosis, the sperm or egg cell will have only 23 chromosomes.

How Meiosis Reduces Chromosome Number

Meiosis has two major parts:

• Meiosis I: This is the actual reductional division where homologous chromosomes (pairs) are separated, and the chromosome number is halved.
• Meiosis II: This is similar to mitosis and divides the already reduced cells further, but without changing the chromosome number.

So, if a parent cell has 46 chromosomes (in humans), after meiosis:

• Each gamete (sperm or egg) will have 23 chromosomes.
• When sperm and egg unite during fertilization, the number becomes 46 again in the zygote.

Why Is This Reduction Important?

• Maintains chromosome number: It ensures that the new organism has the same number of chromosomes as the parents.
• Prevents genetic overload: Without meiosis, the chromosome number would keep doubling with each generation.
• Allows sexual reproduction: It makes sperm and egg cells, which combine to form a baby with the correct number of chromosomes.

Meiosis vs. Mitosis