Why is meiosis necessary for multicellular organisms?

Let’s start off by explaining meiosis and what it entails. Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in the parent cell by half and produces four gamete cells. This process is required to produce egg and sperm cells for sexual reproduction. During reproduction, when the sperm and egg unite to form a single cell, the number of chromosomes is restored in the offspring.

Why is meiosis biologically important?

Free certification technology courses designed by IBM experts.

Meiosis is a fundamental step in sexual reproduction. All eukaryotes (that is, all animals, plants, fungi, and other non-bacteria) reproduce by recombining their genes with the genes of another organism of the same species. This is fundamental to the process of evolution, because it allows for millions of different genetic combinations to be tried out within each generation and for any genetic variants which have a survival advantage to spread throughout the population.

Without sexual reproduction, each offspring is a clone of its single parent. It may accumulate a few mutations, most of which

Tired of mosquito bites? Use All Out®.

Let’s start off by explaining meiosis and what it entails. Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in the parent cell by half and produces four gamete cells. This process is required to produce egg and sperm cells for sexual reproduction. During reproduction, when the sperm and egg unite to form a single cell, the number of chromosomes is restored in the offspring.

Four possible biological functions of meiosis are considered. First, the conventional view that it generates by recombination and sexual reproduction the genetic diversity on which natural selection can act. Second, that recombination at meiosis plays an important role in the repair of genetic defects in germ line cells. Third, that it is essential, at least in animals, for the reprogramming of gametes which give rise to the fertilized egg. Fourth, that it helps maintain the immortality of the germ line, possible by a process of rejuvenation involving the removal of faulty RNA and protein molecules, or by the elimination of defective meiocytes.

Meiosis is important because it ensures that all organisms produced via sexual reproduction contain the correct number of chromosomes. Meiosis also produces genetic variation by way of the process of recombination.