What is the role of meiosis?

Meiosis plays a critical role in reproduction, specifically in the formation of gametes, which are the reproductive cells (sperm and eggs in animals). This process ensures that gametes have half the number of chromosomes typical of somatic cells, a vital characteristic for sexual reproduction.

When two gametes unite during fertilization, the resulting zygote will have the full set of chromosomes required for the development of a new organism. Meiosis introduces genetic variability through mechanisms such as crossing over and independent assortment, contributing to the genetic diversity observed in offspring. This variation is crucial for the evolution of species and adaptation to changing environments.

While other processes like cell repair or tissue regeneration are important for maintenance and healing in organisms, they do not involve the reduction of chromosome number or the formation of gametes as meiosis does. Protein synthesis, although essential for cellular function, is not directly related to the reproductive process. Thus, meiosis is fundamentally tied to the reproduction aspect of life cycles in sexually reproducing organisms.