What is the outcome of meiosis in terms of the number of cells produced?

Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms, specifically in the formation of gametes—sperm and eggs. The primary outcome of meiosis is the production of four genetically diverse haploid cells from a single diploid precursor cell.

During meiosis, the cell undergoes two rounds of division (meiosis I and meiosis II). In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated, reducing the chromosome number by half. In meiosis II, the sister chromatids are separated, similar to the process in mitosis. The end result is four unique haploid cells, each containing half the number of chromosomes of the original diploid cell. This process is crucial for genetic diversity as it involves events like crossing over, where segments of DNA are exchanged between homologous chromosomes, resulting in new combinations of genes.

Thus, understanding that meiosis results in four cells helps emphasize its role in sexual reproduction and genetic variability in organisms.