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WHAT IS MEIOSOS?
Meiosis takes its name from the Greek word meioun, which is translated to mean to make something smaller. In effect, that is what happens when meiosis occurs. A diploid eukaryotic cell will begin a process of dividing into four more or less equal portions, referred to as haploid cells. Generally referred to as gametes, the number of chromosomes contained in each of the gametes created from diploids is reduced from the parent diploid cell. Chromosomes contain the basic DNA chain that will determine the physical characteristics of the child in the event that a pregnancy takes place.

Meiosis produces daughter cells that have one half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.

        2N ? N

Meiosis enables organisms to reproduce sexually. Mitosis produces two daughter cells that are identical to the parent cell.  If the parent cell is haploid (N), then the daughter cells will be haploid.   If the parent cell is diploid, the daughter cells will also be diploid.

        N ? N

        2N ? 2N

This type of cell division allows multicellular organisms to grow and repair damaged tissue


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