Meiosis results in gametes containing how many copies of DNA?

Gametes are reproductive cells that are produced through the process of meiosis, a specialized type of cell division. The key feature of meiosis is that it reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in cells that are haploid. In humans, somatic cells are diploid, containing two sets of chromosomes (2N), whereas gametes have only one set of chromosomes (1N).

Each gamete (sperm or egg cell) contains one copy of each chromosome, and therefore one complete set of genetic information. When two gametes combine during fertilization, they restore the diploid state in the zygote (2N). This reduction in chromosome number is critical for maintaining the stability of the species’ genome through generations, as it ensures that when fertilization occurs, the resulting offspring has the correct number of chromosomes.

The other options do not reflect the genetic makeup of gametes produced by meiosis. For instance, 2N indicates a diploid state, which is typical for somatic cells, while 3N and 4N refer to polyploidy, which are generally not associated with normal gamete formation in humans.