Which process results in four genetically diverse daughter cells?

• A. Meiosis
• B. Mitosis
• C. Cytokinesis
• D. Replication

Answer: (A)

Meiosis produces four genetically diverse daughter cells. It’s a reduction division that halves the chromosome number and introduces variation through two key processes: crossing over in prophase I, where homologous chromosomes exchange genetic material, and independent assortment during the later division stages, which mixes up maternal and paternal chromosomes. Because there are two rounds of division, sister chromatids separate in the second division, yielding four haploid gametes with different genetic combinations. By contrast, mitosis creates two genetically identical diploid cells, replication simply duplicates the DNA, and cytokinesis is just the division of the cytoplasm accompanying cell division, not the genetic outcomes themselves.