Final answer:
At the start of meiosis, the parent cell has 46 chromosomes (23 pairs), and each daughter cell will have 23 chromosomes. These haploid cells will eventually become gametes.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the process of meiosis, diploid cells undergo two cellular divisions to produce four haploid daughter cells. At the start of meiosis, the parent cell has 46 chromosomes (23 pairs), which means that each daughter cell will have 23 chromosomes. These haploid cells will eventually become gametes, such as sperm or egg cells.