If a cell completes meiosis I but meiosis II fails to occur, the two daughter cells formed after meiosis I will exhibit several anomalies:
Chromosome Number: After meiosis I, the cell should have divided its chromosomes into two daughter cells, each containing half the original chromosome number. However, in meiosis II, the sister chromatids are separated into individual chromosomes. Without meiosis II, the two daughter cells will contain the same chromosomes as they had after meiosis I. This means that each of the two daughter cells will still have chromosomes that are replicated, rather than a single copy of each chromosome.
Resulting Chromosome Composition: As a result, both daughter cells will contain duplicated chromosomes, resulting in an abnormal chromosome number. Normally, meiosis II ensures that the chromosome number is reduced to haploid (n). Without meiosis II, the cells will be diploid (2n), and their chromosome count will be higher than normal, which can lead to problems in subsequent generations or fertilization.
Genetic Consequences: Meiosis is essential for generating genetic diversity. Without the separation of sister chromatids in meiosis II, genetic variation that arises through recombination during meiosis I will not be properly distributed. This can result in abnormal genetic makeup and can be harmful to the organism.
Possible Genetic Disorders: In cases where the cell eventually participates in fertilization or further cell divisions, the irregular chromosome numbers can result in disorders such as trisomy or monosomy, where cells have an extra or missing chromosome, leading to genetic conditions like Down syndrome (trisomy 21) or Turner syndrome (monosomy X).