Meiosis: function/stages:
Meiosis, or reductional division, is a process during which exchange of genetic material between the homolog chromosomes (crossing-over and recombination) takes place and such a division of the genetical material occurs the four daugher cells have received each only one set of chromosomes (they are haploid, in contrast to the mother cell which contained homolog chromosomes and was diploid) have each a distinct genetical composition, also different from that of the parental cell.
Meiosis is divided into two phases: meiosis I and meiosis II.
Haploid reproduction cells are the product of meiotic division and a post-meiotic differentiation phase. In animals these cells are directly formed by differentiation (maturation) of the meiotic products. In plants meiotic products progress through mitotic division to meiospores that can further develop to become reproductive cells.