How many daughter cells are produced at the end of meiosis in a typical animal cell?

• A. 2
• B. 4
• C. 6
• D. 8

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the process of meiosis: Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, producing four haploid daughter cells from one diploid parent cell. It consists of two consecutive divisions: meiosis I and meiosis II.
2. Review meiosis I: During meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated into two cells. This division reduces the chromosome number from diploid (2n) to haploid (n). At the end of meiosis I, two haploid cells are produced.
3. Review meiosis II: In meiosis II, the sister chromatids of each chromosome are separated into two cells. This division is similar to mitosis. Each of the two cells from meiosis I divides again, resulting in four haploid daughter cells.
4. Connect the process to the question: Since meiosis involves two rounds of division (meiosis I and meiosis II), and each division produces cells, the final result is four haploid daughter cells.
5. Verify the answer choices: The correct answer is 4, as meiosis produces four daughter cells at the end of the process.