During meiosis, the number of chromosomes and the amount of DNA in a cell change.
(i) Number of chromosomes (N) per cell
During anaphase I of the meiotic cycle, the homologous chromosomes separate and start
moving toward their respective poles. As a result, the bivalents get divided into two sister
chromatids and receive half the chromosomes present in the parent cell.
Therefore, the number of chromosomes reduces in anaphase I.
(ii) Amount of DNA content (C) per cell
During anaphase II of the meiotic cycle, the chromatids separate as a result of the
splitting of the centromere. It is the centromere that holds together the sister chromatids
of each chromosome. As a result, the chromatids move toward their respective poles.
Therefore, at each pole, a haploid number of chromosomes and a haploid amount of DNA
are present.
During mitosis, the number of chromosomes remains the same. The DNA duplicated in
the S phase gets separated in the two daughter cells during anaphase. As a result, the
DNA content (C) of the two newly-formed daughter cells remains the same.