Meiosis is the process of?

Meiosis is specifically defined as a type of cell division that results in the halving of chromosome numbers, producing gametes (sperm and eggs) with half the original number of chromosomes. This reduction is critical for sexual reproduction, ensuring that when gametes fuse during fertilization, the resulting zygote has the correct diploid number of chromosomes.

During meiosis, a diploid cell undergoes two successive divisions—meiosis I and meiosis II—which lead to four haploid cells. In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated, and in meiosis II, the sister chromatids are divided. This careful orchestration is crucial for maintaining genetic diversity through processes like crossing over and independent assortment, which occur during meiosis.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately capture the essence of meiosis. While cellular growth relates to processes such as mitosis, the replication of DNA refers to the increase of genetic material prior to cell division, and cellular division is a general term that does not distinguish between the processes of mitosis and meiosis. Hence, the choice that correctly describes meiosis is the reduction of chromosomal numbers by half.