Question

how does the total amount of genetic material in the four cells produced by meiosis compare to the amount of genetic material in the original parent cell before division?
the four daughter cells are diploid (2n), containing twice the dna of the parent cell.
the four daughter cells are diploid (2n), containing the same total dna as the parent cell.
the four daughter cells are haploid (n), containing half the dna of the parent cell combined.
the four daughter cells are haploid (n), half that of the diploid (2n) parent cell.

Explanation:

Meiosis is a process of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half. The parent cell is diploid (2n). After meiosis, four haploid (n) daughter cells are produced. Each haploid cell has half the genetic material (DNA) of the diploid parent cell. When considering the total amount of genetic material in the four haploid cells combined, it is equal to the amount of genetic material in the diploid parent cell before division. For example, if the parent cell has 2n chromosomes (and corresponding DNA amount), each of the four daughter cells has n chromosomes. \(4\times n = 2n\) (the amount of genetic material in the parent cell).

Answer:

The four daughter cells are haploid (n), containing half the DNA of the parent cell combined.