What is the result of meiosis in terms of chromosome number?

Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms, leading to the production of gametes—sperm and eggs in animals. The primary outcome of meiosis is the reduction of the chromosome number by half.

During meiosis, a diploid cell (with two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent) undergoes two rounds of division: meiosis I and meiosis II. In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated, reducing the chromosome number from diploid to haploid. This means that each resulting gamete will have only one set of chromosomes, which is crucial for sexual reproduction. When fertilization occurs, the diploid state is restored in the zygote, ensuring that the genetic information is balanced between the parents.

Thus, the result of meiosis is a halving of the chromosome number, making it vital for maintaining genetic stability across generations when organisms reproduce sexually.