Question

What is the significance of meiosis

Answer 1

The importance of meiosis is that it enables genetic diversity. Unlike the asexual form of cellular division, mitosis, meiosis allows chromosome pairs with the same genes, called homologous chromosomes, to exchange pieces in a process called recombination. This enables chromosome pieces from the female parent to combine with those of the male parent.

Answer 2

Answer:

Significance of meiosis:

• Chromosome number is halved in gametes (sex cells), so that on fertilization, the normal number (2n) is restored.

• It provides for mixing up of genes which occurs in two ways :

      (i) The maternal and paternal chromosomes get mixed up during the first (reduction) division as they separate from the homologous pairs.

     (ii) While the maternal and paternal chromosomes are separating, the chromatid material very often gets exchanged between the two members of a homologous pair. This is known as crossing over which results in genetic recombination.