Meiosis is a type of cell division that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms to produce gametes (sperm and eggs) with half the number of chromosomes found in body cells.
Features of Meiosis-I:
- Homologous Chromosome Pairing: Chromosomes in the cell align and pair with their homologous partner (one from each parent).
- Crossing Over: Genetic exchange occurs between homologous chromosomes, promoting genetic diversity.
- Reductional Division: The homologous pairs separate, reducing the chromosome number by half in each daughter cell.
- Independent Assortment: The assortment of homologous chromosomes is random, leading to further genetic variation.
