True or False: The cells produced by meiosis are all genetically alike.

Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms, leading to the formation of gametes—sperm and eggs. One of the most significant characteristics of meiosis is that it introduces genetic diversity among the resulting cells.

During meiosis, a single diploid cell undergoes two rounds of division (meiosis I and meiosis II), resulting in four haploid daughter cells. Key processes such as crossing over during prophase I and independent assortment during metaphase contribute to the shuffling of genetic material. As a result, the gametes produced are not genetically identical; rather, they contain different combinations of alleles, which is crucial for genetic variation in offspring.

Therefore, the assertion that the cells produced by meiosis are all genetically alike is false, highlighting the importance of meiosis in creating genetic diversity within a population.