Question

when all steps of meiosis are complete, what has been produced?
a. four haploid cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent diploid cell
b. two diploid cells, each with an exact copy of the parent cells chromosomes
c. two haploid cells, each with one copy of each chromosome from two parent diploid cells
d. four diploid cells, each with twice the number of chromatids as the parent haploid cell

Explanation:

Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in the formation of gametes. It consists of two rounds of division: meiosis I and meiosis II. Starting with a diploid parent cell (containing two sets of chromosomes), after meiosis I, two haploid cells are formed (each with one set of chromosomes, but still in a replicated state). Then, after meiosis II (which is similar to mitosis), each of those two cells divides again. In total, four haploid cells are produced. Each of these haploid cells has half the number of chromosomes as the original diploid parent cell.

• Option B is incorrect because meiosis does not produce diploid cells with an exact copy of the parent cell's chromosomes. That is the result of mitosis.
• Option C is incorrect as meiosis starts with one diploid parent cell (not two) and results in four haploid cells (not two).
• Option D is incorrect because meiosis starts with a diploid cell (not haploid) and reduces the chromosome number (does not double the chromatids in the way described).

Answer:

A. Four haploid cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent diploid cell