Which type of cell division occurs during reproduction to form gametes?

• A. Mitosis
• B. Meiosis
• C. Binary fission
• D. Transcription

Answer: (B)

Meiosis is the type of cell division that specifically occurs during reproduction to form gametes, which are the specialized reproductive cells (sperm and eggs in animals). This process reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four non-identical daughter cells, each containing a unique combination of genetic material. This genetic variation is crucial for sexual reproduction, as it contributes to the diversity of offspring. Meiosis involves two rounds of division (meiosis I and meiosis II) and includes stages such as crossing over and independent assortment, which enhance genetic variability.

In contrast, mitosis is used for general cell growth and repair, producing two identical daughter cells and maintaining the same chromosome number. Binary fission is a form of asexual reproduction seen primarily in prokaryotes, where a single organism divides into two without the formation of gametes. Transcription is a process of converting DNA into RNA and is not related to cell division. Thus, meiosis is the correct answer for the formation of gametes through sexual reproduction.