Why is meiosis referred to as ‘reductional division’?
Why is meiosis referred to as ‘reductional division’?

Meiosis is a type of cell division that produces sex cells or gametes. It occurs in the reproductive organs (testis and ovary) in humans to produce sperm and ova. In flowering plants, it occurs in the anthers and the ovary to produce pollen and ovules. The most important feature of meiosis is that the number of chromosomes in the sex cells is divided in half. For example, in 23 human chromosomes only one chromosomes of which one member of a pear (haploid) is transmitted to the sex cells. This is important because when male and female gametes combine during the fertilization, a number of chromosomes are obtained. The diploid number is expressed as “2n” and the haploid number as “n”.