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Glite Dictionary
👁️ Pupil shrinking 🧬 Cell splitting
miosis

miosis

9.9
A cell division that makes eggs and sperm with half the normal chromosomes
  • noun
  • /maɪˈoʊsɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : meiosis
  • During miosis, the chromosome number in the cells is reduced by half.

Examples

  • During miosis, the cell divides to form gametes.

  • If miosis fails, gametes may end up with an abnormal number of chromosomes.

  • The process of miosis is essential for the formation of eggs and sperm in animals.

  • The process of miosis is vital for sexual reproduction.

  • During miosis, the chromosome number in the cells is reduced by half.

  • The process of miosis is essential for the formation of eggs and sperm in animals.

  • If miosis fails, gametes may end up with an abnormal number of chromosomes.

Synonyms

meiosis
vsmiosis
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A cell division that makes four sex cells each with half the chromosomes

is identical in meaning and gives no extra naming information
reduction division
vsmiosis
  • Specialized
6.1

A type of cell division that makes four sex cells, each with half the chromosomes

is the same process but named by the more common biological term

Surface Forms

miosis singular
mioses plural

Morphology

miosis = mio (opaque) = mio + sis

The immediate base 'mio' is not a standalone English word and its meaning is not transparent to most learners.

Etymology

Miosis comes from the Greek root mei- meaning 'less' or 'to make smaller', and it names the cell process that makes the number of chromosomes smaller. So, miosis is the special cell division that produces eggs and sperm with half the usual number of chromosomes.