What is meiosis 1?

MeiOSis I is the first division in the process of meiOSis, which is essential for sexual reproduction in eukaryotic organisms. During this phase, homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange genetic material through a process called crossing over, resulting in genetic variation. The cell then divides into two haploid daughter cells, each containing one set of chromosomes. This reduction in chromosome number is crucial for maintaining the species' chromosome count across generations when gametes fuse during fertilization.