In meiosis I, a bivalent is an association of

Meiosis is the process by which replicated chromosomes undergo two nuclear divisions to produce four haploid cells, also called meiocytes (sperms and eggs). Diploid (2n) organisms rely on meiosis to produce meiocytes, which have half the ploidy of the parents, for sexual reproduction. Halving the ploidy in meiocytes is essential for restoring the genetic content of the zygote to that of the parents. Meiosis uses similar mechanisms as those employed during mitosis to accomplish the separation and redistribution of chromosomes. However, several features, namely pairing and genetic recombination between homologous chromosomes, are unique to meiosis.