What is meiosis essential for?

Meiosis is essential for sexual reproduction because it is the process that produces gametes—sperm and eggs—in organisms. During meiosis, a cell undergoes two rounds of division, ultimately reducing the chromosome number by half. This reduction is crucial because it ensures that when fertilization occurs, the resulting offspring have the correct diploid number of chromosomes, preserving the species' genetic integrity across generations.

Meiosis not only helps maintain the chromosome number but also introduces genetic diversity through processes such as crossing over and independent assortment. This genetic variation is vital for the evolution and adaptability of species. In contrast, options regarding cellular respiration, tissue repair, and asexual reproduction do not relate directly to the role of meiosis, as those processes involve either the maintenance of existing cells or the production of new ones via cloning mechanisms rather than the generation of diverse, haploid gametes for reproduction.