The purpose of meiosis is to create gametes for sexual reproduction. Meiosis is a specialized type of cell division that occurs in the reproductive organs of organisms, such as the testes in males and the ovaries in females. Its primary function is to produce haploid gametes (sperm cells in males and egg cells in females) that contain half the number of chromosomes compared to the parent cells.
During meiosis, the chromosomes in a cell undergo two rounds of division, resulting in the formation of four genetically unique haploid cells. This process is essential for sexual reproduction because when two gametes, each carrying a unique set of genetic information, fuse during fertilization, they form a new individual with a combination of traits from both parents.
Meiosis plays a crucial role in introducing genetic diversity within a population. Through a process called genetic recombination or crossing over, portions of genetic material from homologous chromosomes can exchange, resulting in the shuffling and mixing of genetic traits. This genetic variation contributes to the adaptability and evolution of populations by providing different combinations of genes for natural selection to act upon.
Therefore, while meiosis does involve the creation of new cells, its primary purpose is to generate gametes for sexual reproduction and to introduce genetic diversity among offspring, rather than for growth and repair or asexual reproduction.