Justification: Meiosis is an important process in sexual reproduction. Which statement bes purpose of meiosis in the formation of egg and sperm cells? A. Meiosis joins the nuclei of the egg and sperm. B. Meiosis divides the cytoplasm of the egg and sperm. C. Meiosis reduces the cell's chromosome number by half. D. Meiosis maintains the cell's original chromosome number.

## Step 1<br />Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in the parent cell by half and produces four gamete cells. This process is required to produce egg and sperm cells for sexual reproduction.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />The purpose of meiosis is to ensure that when the egg and sperm combine during fertilization, the resulting offspring will have the correct number of chromosomes.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />Option A is incorrect because meiosis does not join the nuclei of the egg and sperm. This process is called fertilization.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />Option B is also incorrect because meiosis does not divide the cytoplasm of the egg and sperm. This process is called cytokinesis.<br /><br />## Step 5<br />Option D is incorrect because meiosis does not maintain the cell's original chromosome number. Instead, it reduces the number of chromosomes by half.<br /><br />## Step 6<br />Therefore, the correct answer is option C, which states that meiosis reduces the cell's chromosome number by half. This is the primary purpose of meiosis in the formation of egg and sperm cells.