What is the result of meiosis in terms of genetic information?

The outcome of meiosis involves a significant reduction of genetic information, which is crucial for sexual reproduction. During this process, the number of chromosomes is halved. In humans, for example, somatic cells have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs), whereas meiosis produces gametes—sperm and eggs—with only 23 chromosomes each. This reduction is critical because it ensures that when a sperm and an egg unite during fertilization, the resulting zygote will have the correct diploid number of chromosomes, maintaining the species’ chromosome number across generations.

Meiosis also introduces genetic variability through processes such as crossing over and independent assortment, but its primary purpose is the reduction of chromosome number from diploid to haploid, setting the stage for genetic diversity in offspring.