What type of cells are produced through meiosis?

Meiosis is a specialized process of cell division that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms and is essential for the formation of gametes, which are the reproductive cells (sperm and egg cells in humans). The key characteristic of meiosis is that it reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in the production of haploid cells.

Haploid cells contain only one set of chromosomes (n), which is half the number of chromosomes found in diploid cells (2n). This reduction is important because it ensures that when fertilization occurs, the resulting zygote will have the correct diploid number of chromosomes.

In contrast, diploid cells contain two sets of chromosomes and are typically formed through mitosis, which is the process of cell division that produces identical daughter cells for growth and repair. Somatic cells, which make up most of the body’s tissues and organs, are also diploid. Stem cells can be either diploid or haploid, depending on their type and function, but they do not directly relate to the process of meiosis.

Thus, the production of haploid cells through meiosis is a critical step in sexual reproduction, ensuring genetic diversity and the correct distribution of chromosomes in offspring.