Final answer:
The process that results in the formation of four haploid daughter cells is called meiosis, which includes two rounds of cell division, producing genetically unique cells essential for sexual reproduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
What Process Forms Four Haploid Daughter Cells?
The process that results in the formation of four haploid daughter cells is called meiosis. During meiosis, a cell with a diploid number of chromosomes goes through two rounds of cell division to produce four genetically distinct haploid cells. This reduction of chromosome number by half is essential for sexual reproduction, ensuring that when gametes, such as sperm and eggs, unite during fertilization, the resulting zygote has the correct diploid number of chromosomes.
Stages of Meiosis
Meiosis includes two separate divisions known as meiosis I and meiosis II. Each of these divisions further unfolds in four phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Homologous chromosomes are separated in meiosis I, while the second division, meiosis II, separates the duplicated chromosomes. This sequence culminates in telophase II, followed by cytokinesis, where the cells physically divide, finalizing the formation of four haploid daughter cells. These cells are unique due to the random assortment of chromosomes and the genetic recombination events, such as crossing-over, that occur during meiosis.