MICROANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Meiosis takes place during gamete formation. Gametes fuse to form a zygote. So, if gametes are not haploid the chromosome number will not be maintained in the zygote. In the absence of meiosis an organism with 46 chromosomes would end up having a zygote with 92 chromosomes instead of 46.

Detailed explanation-2: -When the cell divides, the copies are pulled apart, and each new cell gets one identical copy of each chromosome. This type of cell division is called mitosis, and it produces cells with a total of 46 chromosomes.

Detailed explanation-3: -When the sperm and egg cells unite at conception, each contributes 23 chromosomes so the resulting embryo will have the usual 46. Meiosis also allows genetic variation through a process of gene shuffling while the cells are dividing. Mitosis and meiosis, the two types of cell division.