What is meiosis characterized as?

Meiosis is best characterized as a process that results in cells with half the original genetic material. This reduction in chromosome number is vital for sexual reproduction, as it leads to the formation of gametes—sperm and eggs—in animals. During meiosis, a diploid cell undergoes two successive divisions: meiosis I and meiosis II. In the end, four haploid cells are produced, each containing half the number of chromosomes as the original diploid cell. This halving ensures that when gametes fuse during fertilization, the resulting zygote will have the correct diploid number of chromosomes. This unique characteristic of meiosis sets it apart from mitosis, which produces genetically identical diploid cells. Thus, the outcome of meiosis is essential for maintaining genetic diversity and proper genetic balance across generations.