Question

why does meiosis important for gametogenesis to occur

Answer 1

Cells of the human body and other animals, called somatic cells are diploid (2n). This means they have at their core, two copies of each chromosome.

That number doubled chromosomes always keeps constant from generation to generation. Thus, both the sons and their parents have the same number of chromosomes, which in the case of the human species is 46.

Consider now the following question: How is it possible that humans (and other animals and plants diploid) hold constant their number of chromosomes during the process of fertilization is the union of two cells (one maternal and one paternal gamete)?

This is only possible because during the formation of gametes occurs reducing by half the number of chromosomes. Thus, two haploid gametes (n), i.e. with only one copy of each chromosome, join giving a diploid zygote (2n).

The formation of haploid gametes occurs through a process of cell division called meiosis, which occurs in two consecutive steps called meiosis I and meiosis II.