Final answer:
Upon completing the first meiotic division and commencing meiosis II, the cell contains half the chromosomes of the original diploid cell, with each chromosome comprising two sister chromatids. No new DNA replication occurs between meiosis I and II, and the cell is haploid.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Meiosis II
If a cell has completed the first meiotic division and is just beginning meiosis II, the following statement describes the contents of this cell: It has half the number of chromosomes as the original cell. After meiosis I, the cell becomes haploid, containing one set of chromosomes. However, each of these chromosomes still consists of two sister chromatids, which are duplicates of one of the two homologous chromosomes - except for genetic variations introduced during recombination or crossing over.
During meiosis II, these sister chromatids will separate, eventually resulting in four genetically unique haploid daughter cells, each with half the DNA content of the original diploid parent cell. Meiosis II does not include DNA replication, as it typically follows right after meiosis I without an intervening S-phase; hence, no new chromatid duplication occurs. The process broadly mirrors that of mitosis but with the critical distinction that the cells involved are haploid, not diploid.