What is the overall outcome of meiosis II?

The overall outcome of meiosis II is the production of four haploid cells. Meiosis II is similar to mitosis, where the sister chromatids of each chromosome are separated into different cells. Since meiosis I reduces the chromosome number from diploid to haploid, meiosis II, which follows, maintains the haploid state.

At the end of meiosis II, each of the two haploid cells produced from meiosis I divides, resulting in a total of four cells, each having half the original number of chromosomes (haploid). This reduction in chromosome quantity is essential for sexual reproduction, as it ensures that when two gametes fuse during fertilization, the resultant zygote will have the correct diploid number of chromosomes.

This process is pivotal for maintaining genetic diversity through recombination and independent assortment in the previous phases of meiosis, making the outcome of four haploid cells the correct understanding of what occurs during meiosis II.