What type of cells undergo meiosis?

Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that takes place in germ cells, which are the reproductive cells in an organism. The primary role of meiosis is to reduce the chromosome number by half, creating haploid cells—such as sperm and eggs in animals. This reduction is crucial for sexual reproduction, as it ensures that when two gametes fuse during fertilization, the resulting zygote has the correct diploid number of chromosomes.

Germ cells undergo meiosis specifically to produce gametes, which carry genetic information to the next generation. In contrast, somatic cells, which constitute the body's tissues and organs, undergo mitosis, a process that results in two genetically identical diploid daughter cells. Stem cells have the potential to differentiate into various cell types but do not typically engage in meiosis. Therefore, the unique characteristics of germ cells make them the only cell type that undergoes meiosis to facilitate reproduction.