5 Important Significance of Meiosis

5 Important Significance of Meiosis

Meiosis Or Meiotic Cell Division

Meiosis is a type cell division which occurs in germ cells of sexually reproducing organisms to form male gametes and female gametes. In Meiosis daughter cells have half the number of chromosomes as compared to the mother cell.

5 Important Significance of Meiosis

Significance of Meiosis are as follows –

Significance of Meiosis in Reproduction- Formation of Gamets 

  • Meiosis takes place during the formation of gametes or sex cells. It takes place inside the reproductive organs (testis and ovary) in animals to produce sperms and ova.
  • In flowering plants it takes place in anthers to produce pollen grains and ovules to produce eggs.

Significance of Meiosis in Maintenance of Chromosome Number

  • Meiosis maintains the fixed number of chromosomes in sexually reproducing organisms.
  • Meiosis Provides constancy of the chromosome number from generation to generation by reducing the chromosome number from diploid to haploid, thereby producing haploid gametes.

Significance of Meiosis in Variations

  • Variations Crossing over during meiosis helps in the formation of recombinations or variations.

Significance of Meiosis in Evolution 

  • The formation of new species from pre-existing ones by modifications in them is called evolution. Variations are produced during meiosis and these variations are the cause of evolution.

Significance of Meiosis in Genetic information 

  • The genetic information found in DNA is essential in creating all the characteristics of an organism. Genetic Information is passed to the offspring by meiosis where four haploid cells are created from their diploid parent cell.
  • For a species to survive, and genetic information to be preserved and passed on, reproduction must occur. This is possible by passing on the information found in the chromosomes via the gametes that are created in meiosis.

Also Check – Is Meiosis part of the Cell Cycle?

Also Check – 12 Important Significance of Mitosis

Also Check – 7 Important Differences between Mitosis and Meiosis