What type of cells undergo meiosis?

Meiosis is a specialized type of cell division that is critical for sexual reproduction, as it reduces the chromosome number by half and results in the formation of gametes. Gametes are the reproductive cells, which include sperm in males and eggs (ova) in females, and they play a crucial role in fertilization and the continuation of genetic material.

During meiosis, one diploid cell (containing two sets of chromosomes) divides to produce four haploid cells (with one set of chromosomes), each genetically distinct from the parent cell and from each other. This process not only ensures genetic diversity through recombination and independent assortment but also establishes the proper chromosome number for the resulting offspring.

In contrast, somatic cells are any cells in the body that are not gametes and undergo mitosis—not meiosis. Stem cells can differentiate into various cell types, but they still undergo mitosis for growth and repair rather than meiosis. The option stating "all cells" is overly broad, as only gametes specifically undergo meiosis.

Thus, the correct identification of gametes as the type of cells that undergo meiosis highlights the understanding of biological processes inherent to sexual reproduction.