What type of cell division reduces the chromosome number by half?

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

Answer: (D)

Meiosis is reduction division, meaning it cuts the chromosome number in half to produce haploid cells from a diploid precursor. It involves two successive divisions: the first separates homologous chromosomes, halving the number in each cell, and the second separates sister chromatids, yielding four haploid gametes in the end. This halving is crucial for sexual reproduction, so fertilization restores the species’ full chromosome count. The other processes don’t achieve this reduction: mitosis preserves the chromosome number and creates identical daughter cells, binary fission is bacterial replication, and cytokinesis is just the division of the cytoplasm that follows mitosis or meiosis.