So now that we've covered crossing over in our last lesson video, the first main event that creates genetic diversity during meiosis. In this video, we're going to talk about the second main event that creates genetic diversity during meiosis, and that is independent assortment. Independent assortment occurs specifically during metaphase 1 of meiosis 1. During metaphase, the chromosomes align themselves in the middle of the cell. Specifically during metaphase 1 of meiosis 1, the chromosomes align themselves in homologous pairs in 2 rows on the metaphase plate. Independent assortment refers to the ability of these pairs of homologous chromosomes to independently and randomly align themselves on the metaphase plate during metaphase 1 of meiosis 1. This results in an enormous amount of possible genetic combinations during meiosis. Independent assortment, along with crossing over, is part of the reason why meiosis results in 4 haploid cells that are all genetically different from one another. Independent assortment helps to create more possible genetic combinations, making it very difficult to get 2 cells that are genetically identical during the process of meiosis.
It's actually possible to calculate the number of combinations due to independent assortment by using the equation 2n, where n represents the haploid number of chromosomes in a cell. We'll be able to get some practice applying this equation here to calculate the number of combinations due to independent assortment when we get to our image down below.
If we take a look at our image down below, notice that we're showing 2 possibilities for independent assortment as it occurs during meiosis. Notice that possibility number 1 is over here generating combination 1 and combination 2, and possibility number 2 is over here generating combination 3 and combination 4. This first row right here represents metaphase 1 of meiosis 1. During metaphase 1 of meiosis 1, homologous chromosomes are going to pair up and align themselves in 2 rows on the metaphase plate. You can see that one possibility for these chromosomes to align themselves is that all of the maternal chromosomes inherited from the mother line up on one side, and all of the paternal chromosomes inherited from the father line up on the other side. This is one possibility if these homologous chromosomes independently and randomly align during metaphase 1. Another possibility for how these chromosomes can independently and randomly align is shown here, where they're not lined up on one side. Each of these possibilities is going to result in a different genetic combination.
In the representation of metaphase 2 of meiosis 2, the chromosomes are aligning in a single file line, like they do in mitosis. This results in different genetic combinations. Each possibility in this phase represents different genetic combinations and they all resulted from independent assortment, how these chromosomes can independently and randomly align themselves during metaphase 1 of meiosis 1.
Ultimately, independent assortment, the random alignment of homologous pairs of chromosomes, is going to create a lot of possible genetic combinations. In human cells, there are actually 46 chromosomes which would create significantly more possibilities. You can again calculate the number of possible combinations by using the formula 2n. In this example, if the haploid number of chromosomes is 2, then 22 which is 4, represents the number of possible genetic combinations. This concludes our brief introduction to independent assortment, how it occurs during metaphase 1, and how it consists of homologous chromosomes independently and randomly aligning to create an enormous amount of possible genetic combinations during meiosis. We'll be able to get some practice applying these concepts as we move forward in our course. So, I'll see you all in our next video.