Final answer:
A diploid cell with 40 chromosomes undergoing meiosis will produce daughter nuclei each with 20 chromosomes, reflecting the production of haploid cells with half the chromosome number of the original cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a diploid cell, which contains two sets of chromosomes, undergoes meiosis, it results in the production of haploid daughter cells. As such, if a diploid cell with 40 chromosomes undergoes meiosis, each daughter nucleus will have 20 chromosomes, which is half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell. This process ensures that when gametes are formed, they contain one set of chromosomes, which can then combine with another set from the other parent during fertilization to restore the diploid number in the offspring.
Review questions indicate that:
Meiosis typically produces four haploid daughter cells.
An organism's muscle cells have 32 chromosomes, its gametes (produced by meiosis) will have 16 chromosomes.
After meiosis, each cell has divided again to result in four genetically unique haploid daughter cells.