Final answer:
During oogenesis, one large ovum and typically three small daughter cells called polar bodies, which degenerate, are produced.
Step-by-step explanation:
The small daughter cells produced during oogenesis that degenerate are called polar bodies. Oogenesis is the process by which the female gametes, or eggs, are produced in the ovaries. The process begins before birth with a diploid cell called an oogonium undergoing mitosis to form a primary oocyte. This primary oocyte starts meiosis but is arrested during the first prophase stage until puberty.
When meiosis resumes, it produces an unequal division of the cytoplasm, resulting in one larger cell, the secondary oocyte, and a smaller cell, the polar body, which generally degenerates. If fertilization occurs, the secondary oocyte completes meiosis II, producing a haploid ovum and a second polar body, both required for reproduction. Oogenesis is crucial as it ensures that the resulting ovum contains the necessary cytoplasm and organelles to support the early development of a potential zygote.