What is the primary function of meiosis?

The primary function of meiosis is to produce sperm and eggs, which are the sex cells involved in sexual reproduction. Meiosis is a specialized type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in gametes that contain only one set of chromosomes. This reduction is essential for maintaining the chromosome number across generations; when sperm and egg fuse during fertilization, they create a zygote that has the full set of chromosomes.

Meiosis also introduces genetic variation through processes such as crossing over and independent assortment, which contributes to the genetic diversity of offspring. This is key for evolution and adaptation in populations. In contrast, other processes like mitosis or DNA replication are involved in cellular growth, repair, and the production of identical cells, but these do not contribute to the formation of gametes or genetic diversity in the same way that meiosis does.