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• n  (genetics) cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms; the nucleus divides into four nuclei each containing half the chromosome number (leading to gametes in animals and spores in plants)
• n  understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary)

• In one, they looked for and found cells that appeared to be undergoing meiosis, the type of cell division peculiar to sperm and egg cells.
• The British exaggerate in the same direction, indulging in what grammarians call meiosisunderstatement.
• The sex cells (sperm and egg) are the end results of a complicated process (meiosis or reduction division) that gives each of them half as many chromosomes as in the nonsexual .

• miosis
• reduction division
• litotes

Quotes

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• Karim Nayernia in Manchester Evening News
  We now have the first step, but the cells don't enter meiosis,said Prof Nayernia. "If we could solve this problem, and I think it's scientifically possible, the next stage will be to produce functional sperm."