In meiosis, chromosome number becomes:

Options

A. half of its parent chromosome number
B. same as that of parent chromosome number
C. one fourth of its parent chromosome number
D. none of these

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Meiosis**: Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in the formation of gametes (sperm and eggs in animals).

2. **Phases of Meiosis**: Meiosis consists of two main stages: Meiosis I and Meiosis II.
- **Meiosis I**: This is known as the reductional division. During this phase, homologous chromosomes are separated, and the chromosome number is reduced from diploid (2n) to haploid (n).
- **Meiosis II**: This is referred to as the equational division. In this phase, the sister chromatids are separated, but the chromosome number remains the same (haploid).

3. **Initial Chromosome Number**: In a diploid organism, the parent cell has a chromosome number represented as 2n (where n is the number of unique chromosomes).

4. **After Meiosis I**: Following Meiosis I, the two daughter cells each have n chromosomes. Thus, the chromosome number is halved from 2n to n.

5. **After Meiosis II**: After Meiosis II, each of the two daughter cells from Meiosis I divides again, resulting in a total of four daughter cells, each still having n chromosomes.

6. **Final Result**: Therefore, at the end of meiosis, the original diploid parent cell produces four haploid daughter cells, each with half the chromosome number of the parent cell.

**Conclusion**: In meiosis, the chromosome number becomes half of the original diploid number, resulting in four haploid daughter cells.

**Answer**: In meiosis, the chromosome number becomes half (n) of the parent cell (2n), producing four haploid daughter cells.

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