Meiosis primarily occurs in the reproductive organs of organisms. In animals, this process takes place in the testes for males and in the ovaries for females. During meiosis, germ cells undergo division to produce gametes, which are sperm in males and eggs in females. In plants, meiosis occurs in specialized structures called sporangia, leading to the formation of spores.
Understanding where meiosis happens is crucial because it directly relates to how organisms reproduce and generate genetic diversity. This reduction division process ensures that the gametes carry half the genetic material, so when fertilization occurs, the resulting offspring have the correct diploid number of chromosomes.