Answer:
Before meiosis can begin, the cell must undergo a round of DNA replication during interphase, which occurs before meiosis in both mitotic and meiotic cell division. During DNA replication, the cell copies all of its genetic material (chromosomes) to produce identical sister chromatids.
Once DNA replication is complete, the cell enters meiosis, which is divided into two rounds of cell division (meiosis I and meiosis II) that result in the production of four genetically diverse daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the original parent cell.
Before meiosis begins, the cell also undergoes a series of preparatory steps, including chromosome condensation and pairing, that help to ensure the proper segregation and distribution of genetic material during the meiotic cell division process.