What is produced during meiosis?

During meiosis, the primary outcome is the production of four gametes, each containing half the original DNA content of the parent cell. This reduction in chromosome number is crucial for sexual reproduction, as it ensures that when gametes (sperm and egg) unite during fertilization, the resulting offspring have the proper diploid number of chromosomes.

Meiosis involves two rounds of cell division: meiosis I and meiosis II. In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated, reducing the chromosome number by half. Then, meiosis II separates the sister chromatids. By the end of the process, you obtain four genetically diverse gametes, each with haploid (n) genetic material, which is key for maintaining genetic diversity through sexual reproduction.

This outcome is foundational for the inheritance of traits and the generation of variation in populations, making option B the correct choice. The other options either misrepresent the process or the number of cells produced during meiosis.