Answer
Meiosis halves the normal complement of chromosomes and creates gametes that have the haploid number of chromosomes. When male and female gametes meet in the process of fertilization, the original number of chromosomes is restored.
Work Step by Step
Meiosis halves the normal complement of chromosomes and creates gametes that have the haploid number of chromosomes. When male and female gametes meet in the process of fertilization, the original number of chromosomes is restored.
If meiosis did not occur and gametes had the diploid complement of chromosomes, when fertilization would occur, the resulting offspring would have double the number of chromosomes it should have. Each subsequent generation would just add more chromosomes.
