meiosis /mī·ō″sis/ [Gk, becoming smaller] , the division of a sex cell as it matures into two and then four haploid cells. The nucleus of each receives one half of the number of chromosomes present in the somatic cells of the species. Also called reduction division. Compare mitosis. See also anaphase, metaphase, oogenesis, prophase, spermatogenesis, telophase. −meiotic, adj.
