Here's a breakdown:
* Meiosis I: In the first meiotic division, homologous chromosomes (pairs of chromosomes with the same genes) are separated. This reduces the number of chromosomes from diploid (2n) to haploid (n).
* Meiosis II: This is where the sister chromatids (identical copies of a chromosome) are separated. Each sister chromatid is now considered a separate chromosome.
So, to be specific:
* Meiosis I: Homologous chromosomes separate.
* Meiosis II: Sister chromatids separate.
This process of separating sister chromatids in meiosis II ensures that each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes, but with only one copy of each gene. This is crucial for creating genetically diverse gametes (sperm and egg cells) for sexual reproduction.