Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction

Meiosis is a type of cell division that produces gametes (sperm and egg cells) with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. It is related to sexual reproduction because the gametes produced through meiosis combine during fertilization to form a new individual with a unique combination of genetic material.

The main stages of meiosis are: Prophase I, Metaphase I, Anaphase I, Telophase I, Cytokinesis I, Prophase II, Metaphase II, Anaphase II, Telophase II, and Cytokinesis II.

Some advantages of sexual reproduction include increased genetic variation, which can lead to increased adaptability and survival in changing environments, and the ability to repair damaged DNA through recombination during meiosis.