What type of cell division primarily occurs in reproductive cells?

Meiosis is the type of cell division that primarily occurs in reproductive cells, specifically in the formation of gametes—sperm and eggs. This process is essential for sexual reproduction and reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four genetically diverse daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes of the original cell. This reduction is crucial because it ensures that when fertilization occurs, the resulting zygote has the correct diploid number of chromosomes, maintaining genetic stability across generations.

In contrast, mitosis is a form of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells and is primarily used for growth, repair, and asexual reproduction, rather than the production of gametes. Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death and does not involve cell division. Fission is a form of asexual reproduction observed in single-celled organisms where the cell divides into two or more cells, but it is not how reproductive cells are formed in multicellular organisms. Thus, meiosis is specifically designed to create genetic diversity and maintain proper chromosome numbers during reproduction.