Question

Explain the significance of meiocytes in diploid organisms.

Answer 1

Meiocyte is a type of cell that differentiates via the meiosis phase into a gamete via meiosis, the diploid meiocyte is divided into four genetically distinct haploid gametes.

Complete answer:
Meiocytes are specialised cells found in sexually reproductive species. They undergo meiotic division to produce male and female gametes that bear only one set of chromosomes and thus help preserve the chromosomal number of the organism.
Sexually, most eukaryotes replicate-a cell from one individual joins a cell from another to generate the next generation.The cells that fuse must produce half the number of chromosomes in order to succeed, as in the adult body. Otherwise, for each generation, the number of chromosomes will double. The reduction in chromosome number is accomplished by the meiosis process. There are typically two stages in meiosis, Meiosis I and II.The cells that undergo the process of meiosis are called meiocytes and are diploid (2N).
Yeast
In model organisms, such as yeast, the mechanism of meiosis has been extensively studied. As a result, the manner in which meiocytes are regulated during the meiotic cell cycle is better understood in this community of organisms. Meiocytes of yeast undergoing meiosis must pass through a number of checkpoints in order to complete the cell cycle. If the meiocyte divides and this division results in a mutant cell, the mutant cell undergoes apoptosis and thus does not complete the cycle.
Animals
The meiotic cell cycle of the animal is very much like that of the yeast. Checkpoints within the animal meiotic cell cycle are used to stop mutant meiocytes from progressing further within the cycle. Like yeast meiocytes, if the animal meiocyte is differentiated into a mutant cell, the cell will undergo apoptosis.

Note: These cells serve as precursors to meiosis. As a result, they help directly in the formation of gametes. Meiocyte influence over the meiotic cell cycle varies between different classes of species.