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What does independent assortment lead to during meiosis?

  1. The production of identical gametes

  2. The replication of chromosomes

  3. Genetic variation among gametes

  4. The separation of sister chromatids

The correct answer is: Genetic variation among gametes

Independent assortment during meiosis refers to the random distribution of homologous chromosome pairs into daughter cells. This process occurs during metaphase I of meiosis, where the orientation of each pair of chromosomes is independent of the others. As a result, when these chromosomes are separated into gametes, they do not come out as identical to each other or to the original parent cell. This randomness is crucial because it creates a diverse range of combinations of alleles in the resulting gametes. Thus, independent assortment is a key mechanism that contributes to genetic variation in sexually reproducing organisms, leading to offspring that can have different traits from one another and from their parents. This genetic diversity is important for evolution and adaptation in populations.