Final answer:
Sex cells or gametes produced during meiosis have half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell. In humans, this means each gamete has 23 chromosomes. Meiosis involves two cell divisions to produce four haploid cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sex cells produced during meiosis are characterized by having half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell. This is an essential biological process that ensures when sexual reproduction occurs, the resultant zygote has the appropriate number of chromosomes. During meiosis, a diploid cell undergoes two consecutive rounds of cell division without an intervening round of DNA replication, leading to the formation of four haploid cells, each with one chromosome from each original homologous pair.
In humans, for instance, the gametes (sperm and egg) produced by meiosis will each contain 23 chromosomes, which is exactly half the number found in a diploid somatic cell that has 46 chromosomes (23 pairs).