AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -What stage of meiosis does independent assortment occur? Independent assortment in meiosis takes place in eukaryotes during metaphase I of meiotic division. It produces a gamete carrying mixed chromosomes. Gametes contain half the number of regular chromosomes in a diploid somatic cell.

Detailed explanation-2: -Answer and Explanation: The stage of meiosis where independent assortment occurs is metaphase I.

Detailed explanation-3: -The physical basis for the law of independent assortment lies in meiosis I of gamete formation, when homologous pairs line up in random orientations at the middle of the cell as they prepare to separate.

Detailed explanation-4: -In metaphase I, the homologous pairs of chromosomes align on either side of the equatorial plate. Then, in anaphase I, the spindle fibers contract and pull the homologous pairs, each with two chromatids, away from each other and toward each pole of the cell. During telophase I, the chromosomes are enclosed in nuclei.

Detailed explanation-5: -During metaphase of meiosis I, synapsed pairs of homologous chromosomes (known as bivalents or tetrads) are lined up on an imaginary plane in the middle of the cell called the metaphase plate. The chromosomes are attached to spindle fibres at their centromeres.