MEIOSIS
Meiosis is a type of cell division used in sexual reproduction. Meiosis consists of two divisions - that is, the cycle of interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase happens two times. So, instead of 2 daughter cells, 4 cells are created from the 1 original cell. Each of the 4 cells only has 1/2 the amount of DNA needed by a cell. Meiosis is not intended to create a new working cell. Rather, it is intended to create a 1/2 cell that can join with another 1/2 cell in sexual reproduction.
Meiosis I
Meiosis I is very similar to mitosis. That is, there is interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. The major difference is that mitosis creates exact copies of the DNA, but in meiosis each daughter cell has different combinations of the DNA.
Meiosis II
During the second cycle, the two daughter cells split again to form a total of 4 daughter cells. Each daughter cell, however, only ends up with 1/2 the normal number of chromosomes. A cell with only 1/2 the number of chromosomes is called a haploid cell. A diploid cell, on the other hand, has all of its chromosomes.
When meiosis is over there are 4 haploid cells; each of them is called a gamete. The purpose of the gametes is to find other gametes to combine with and form a new organism.