Why is meiosis sometimes called "reductive division"?
A) It has fewer overall steps than mitosis.
B) It has fewer prophase steps than mitosis.
C) It involves crossing over.
D) It results in a reduction of the number of chromosomes.
E) It reduces the amount of cytoplasm in the cell.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Meiosis is called "reductive division" because it results in a reduction of the number of chromosomes. In meiosis I, the homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange genetic material through crossing over, leading to the separation of the homologous pairs. Consequently, the resulting daughter cells have half the number of chromosomes (haploid) as the parent cell (diploid).

Why Is Meiosis Sometimes Called "Reductive Division