The process of cell division for germ cells is called:

The process of cell division for germ cells is called:

• A. Meiosis
• B. Mitosis
• C. Spermatogenesis
• D. Organogenesis

Answer: (A)

Germ cells divide through a specialized process called meiosis, which is designed to produce gametes with half the chromosome number. In humans this means going from a diploid set of 46 chromosomes to haploid gametes with 23. Meiosis involves two rounds of division (Meiosis I and Meiosis II) and includes crossing over during prophase I, which shuffles genes between homologous chromosomes and creates genetic variation. This variance is important because when a sperm and egg join at fertilization, the full chromosome set is restored, but the offspring carry new combinations of genes. Mitosis, by contrast, is ordinary cell division that preserves the chromosome number and produces two genetically identical diploid cells for growth and tissue repair. Spermatogenesis refers to the entire process of sperm development, of which meiosis is a key part but not the sole defining step. Organogenesis is the formation of organs during embryonic development.

Germ cells divide through a specialized process called meiosis, which is designed to produce gametes with half the chromosome number. In humans this means going from a diploid set of 46 chromosomes to haploid gametes with 23. Meiosis involves two rounds of division (Meiosis I and Meiosis II) and includes crossing over during prophase I, which shuffles genes between homologous chromosomes and creates genetic variation. This variance is important because when a sperm and egg join at fertilization, the full chromosome set is restored, but the offspring carry new combinations of genes.

Mitosis, by contrast, is ordinary cell division that preserves the chromosome number and produces two genetically identical diploid cells for growth and tissue repair. Spermatogenesis refers to the entire process of sperm development, of which meiosis is a key part but not the sole defining step. Organogenesis is the formation of organs during embryonic development.