Answer:
Meiosis is a process where a single cell divides twice to produce four cells containing half the original amount of genetic information. During meiosis one cell divides twice to form four daughter cells.
This is because meiosis creates cells that are destined to become gametes (or reproductive cells), this reduction in chromosome number is critical — without it, the union of two gametes during fertilization would result in offspring with twice the normal number of chromosomes to make a human child.