Answer :
The cell division that occurs in the earliest stages of zygote development is called cleavage. Cleavage is a series of rapid mitotic divisions of the zygote without overall growth.
During cleavage, the zygote divides into smaller cells called blastomeres. These divisions are crucial as they increase the cell number while maintaining the same overall size of the embryo. Cleavage ultimately leads to the formation of a multicellular organism from a single-cell zygote.
The process of cleavage is essential for the initial development of an organism and sets the stage for further differentiation and specialization of cells during embryonic development. It helps in the formation of a blastula, which is a hollow ball of cells that will undergo further cell movements and differentiation to form different tissues and organs.
In contrast, meiosis is a type of cell division that occurs during gametogenesis to produce gametes (sperm and egg cells) with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. Meiosis is involved in sexual reproduction and genetic diversity.
Therefore, in the context of zygote development, cleavage is the correct cell division process that occurs in the earliest stages to kickstart the development of a new organism.
