What is the main purpose of meiosis?

The primary purpose of meiosis is to produce haploid gametes, which are essential for sexual reproduction. During meiosis, a diploid cell undergoes two rounds of division to create four genetically diverse haploid cells. These gametes — sperm in males and eggs in females — are critical for maintaining the proper chromosome number in offspring when fertilization occurs, as the fusion of two haploid cells results in a diploid zygote.

This process not only ensures the formation of gametes but also enhances genetic diversity through independent assortment and crossing over during the meiotic phases. This genetic variation is vital for evolution and adapting to changing environments.

The other options involve processes that do not contribute specifically to the formation of gametes. The production of diploid cells pertains to mitosis, cell growth and repair is also a function of mitosis, and DNA replication occurs prior to both meiosis and mitosis, but it is not the defining purpose of meiosis itself.