Meiosis is defined as which process?

• A. The growth of tissue cells
• B. The division of somatic cells to two identical diploid cells
• C. The replication of DNA
• D. The formation of gametes through a reduction division

Answer: (D)

Meiosis is the process that forms gametes by halving the chromosome number through two successive divisions after DNA has been replicated. This reduction division is the defining feature, producing four haploid cells from a single diploid precursor and enabling sexual reproduction. It also introduces genetic variation through crossing over and independent assortment during the first division. In contrast, mitosis applies to growth and tissue maintenance, yielding two identical diploid daughter cells, and DNA replication is a separate step that occurs before both processes but is not meiosis itself.