What type of cells are produced at the end of meiosis?

At the end of meiosis, the type of cells that are produced are haploid cells. Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms. It reduces the chromosome number in half, resulting in four genetically distinct haploid cells, each containing half the genetic material of the original cell.

This reduction is crucial for sexual reproduction, as it ensures that when two haploid gametes (sperm and egg) join during fertilization, the resulting zygote will have the correct diploid number of chromosomes. The other types of cells mentioned, such as diploid cells, polyploid cells, and somatic cells, are not the direct products of meiosis. Diploid cells contain two sets of chromosomes and are typical of somatic cells. Polyploid cells have more than two complete sets of chromosomes, and somatic cells refer to any non-reproductive cells in the body, which typically contain a diploid number of chromosomes. Thus, the distinguishing feature of the cells produced through meiosis is that they are haploid, which is essential for maintaining genetic diversity and proper chromosome number across generations.