The reductive cell division which results in daughter cells containing one copy of
each of the
chromosomes of the parent. The entire meiotic process involves two separate divisions (meiosis
I and meiosis II). The first division is a true reductive division with the
chromosome number being halved, whereas the second division resembles
mitosis in many ways. Thus, a diploid parental cell will give rise to haploid daughter cells
(cf.
ploidy).
Source:
PAC, 1992, 64, 143
(Glossary for chemists of terms used in biotechnology (IUPAC Recommendations 1992))
on page 159