Final answer:
Meiosis produces haploid cells such as gametes and haploid spores, but not diploid somatic cells. Somatic cells, which encompass all cells in the body other than reproductive cells, are diploid and do not result from meiosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question asks which type of cell is not produced by meiosis. Meiosis produces cells that are all except somatic. Somatic cells are diploid and include all the cells of a multicellular organism except the gametes or reproductive cells. On the other hand, meiosis results in the production of haploid cells. Specifically, it usually produces four haploid cells which can either be gametes (in animals) or haploid spores (in plants and fungi).
In the context of plants, spores can develop into a new organism (gametophyte) that will eventually produce gametes. During sexual reproduction, gametes will fuse to form a diploid zygote. It is important to note that spores undergo mitosis to develop into haploid organisms, not through meiosis. Moreover, to correct a common misconception, somatic cells have the diploid number of chromosomes, whereas gametes are haploid and contain half the number of chromosomes.