The number of chromosomes is reduced to half during-

Options

A. Anaphase meiosis II
B. Meiosis II
C. Meiosis I
D. Fertilization

Answer

To answer the question, "The number of chromosomes is reduced to half during-", we will follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Chromosome Number**:
- Each species has a specific number of chromosomes. For example, humans have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs).

2. **Identifying the Process**:
- The process that reduces the chromosome number by half is known as meiosis. This is a type of cell division that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms.

3. **Meiosis Stages**:
- Meiosis consists of two main stages: Meiosis I and Meiosis II.
- It is important to note that the reduction in chromosome number occurs during Meiosis I.

4. **Meiosis I**:
- During Meiosis I, homologous chromosomes (pairs of chromosomes, one from each parent) are separated into two new cells.
- This separation results in each new cell having half the number of chromosomes compared to the original cell.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the number of chromosomes is reduced to half during Meiosis I.

### Final Answer:
The number of chromosomes is reduced to half during Meiosis I.

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