What is the end result of meiosis?

The end result of meiosis is the production of four genetically unique haploid cells. This process involves two rounds of cell division (meiosis I and meiosis II), which reduces the chromosome number by half and introduces genetic variation through mechanisms such as crossing over and independent assortment.

During meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated, resulting in two cells that are not genetically identical to each other or the original diploid parent cell. In meiosis II, the sister chromatids of each chromosome are separated, leading to a total of four cells. Each of these cells contains half the number of chromosomes, making them haploid. Moreover, because of the mixing of genetic material that occurs during crossing over and the random segregation of chromosomes, these haploid cells are genetically unique. This genetic diversity is critical for evolution and adaptation in populations.