How many daughter cells result from meiosis?

Meiosis is a specialized type of cell division that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms to produce gametes, which are the reproductive cells (sperm and eggs). The process of meiosis consists of two sequential rounds of division: meiosis I and meiosis II.

During meiosis I, homologous chromosomes, which are pairs of chromosomes, are separated into two daughter cells. However, the process does not end there. Meiosis II follows, resembling a mitotic division in which the sister chromatids of each chromosome are separated. When meiosis is complete, the total result is four genetically unique daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes of the original cell. This reduction in chromosome number is crucial for maintaining the species' chromosome number across generations when gametes fuse during fertilization.

Thus, the correct answer reflects that four daughter cells are formed as a result of meiosis, making it essential for sexual reproduction.