Meiosis is a special type of cell division that occurs in organisms to produce reproductive cells, known as gametes. This process reduces the number of chromosomes by half, creating cells with only one set of chromosomes. For example, in humans, meiosis results in sperm and egg cells, each containing 23 chromosomes instead of the usual 46 found in most body cells. During meiosis, a single cell goes through two rounds of division, called meiosis I and meiosis II. This leads to the formation of four unique gametes, each with different genetic combinations. This genetic diversity is crucial for evolution and the survival of species, as it allows for variation in traits among offspring.