Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

why is meiosis referred to as reductive division?

Hi,

Can you tell us what you are doing for your project? We should be better able to help you if you give us more information.

Regardless, a quick google search produces: http://www.biology-online.org/dictionar ... e_Division , which should answer your question.

Meiosis is a process used to make gametes such as sperm or egg cells. These gametes have half the number of chromosomes as the original parent cell. Hence, meiosis reduces the number of chromosomes in daughter cells and can be called "reductive division."

Janelle