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Multiple Choice
What does meiosis produce in sexually reproducing organisms?
A
Polyploid cells
B
Identical daughter cells
C
Diploid somatic cells
D
Haploid gametes
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in the production of gametes in sexually reproducing organisms.
Recall that gametes are reproductive cells, such as sperm and eggs, which are haploid, meaning they contain one set of chromosomes.
Recognize that meiosis consists of two consecutive divisions: meiosis I and meiosis II, which ultimately lead to four non-identical haploid cells.
Differentiate meiosis from mitosis, which produces identical diploid somatic cells, whereas meiosis results in genetic diversity through recombination and independent assortment.
Conclude that the primary purpose of meiosis is to produce haploid gametes, ensuring genetic variation and maintaining the species' chromosome number across generations.