Which type of cell division results in cells with half the chromosome number of the parent cell?

Meiosis is the process of cell division that results in four genetically diverse gametes, each with half the chromosome number of the original parent cell. This reduction in chromosome number is crucial for sexual reproduction, as it ensures that when two gametes (sperm and egg) fuse during fertilization, the resulting zygote has the correct diploid chromosome number.

During meiosis, a diploid cell undergoes two consecutive divisions: meiosis I and meiosis II. In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes separate, reducing the chromosome number by half. This is different from mitosis, which results in two identical daughter cells, each retaining the full diploid chromosome number of the parent cell. The process of meiosis is vital for maintaining genetic diversity through independent assortment and crossing over, mechanisms that mix genetic material and create variation among offspring. This diversity is essential for evolution and adaptation in populations.

The other concepts mentioned, such as linkage and codominance, refer to genetic phenomena rather than processes of cell division, and therefore do not pertain to the reduction of chromosome number in daughter cells.