The significance of meiosis are as follows
Meiosis is important because it ensures that all organisms produced via sexual reproduction contain the correct number of chromosomes. Meiosis also produces genetic variation by way of the process of recombination.
To keep the chromosomal number constant: By meiosis it is only possible to keep the chromosome number constant from generation to generation.
If there had been no meiosis in reproductive mother cells (2n) of higher plants and animals or in zygote (2n) of haploid plants, chromosome number would be doubled in each generation and thus the species character will be hampered.
To keep species character constant: By keeping constancy of the chromosomal number, species characteristics can be maintained from generation to generation.
Formation of diversity: No two organisms that are capable of sexual reproduction are precisely alike. Though all the 500,000,0000 people in the world are of same species, they differ from each other. This variation occurs in the organisms of the world because crossing over place in the chromosomes of the gametes during meiosis cell division.
Evolution: Meiosis brings variation and variation brings the trend of evoluation.
Formation of gametes and reproduction: Gametes are formed by meiosis in diploid organisms. Different gametes unite together in the sexual reproduction giving rise to new generation.
