What is the primary outcome of independent assortment during meiosis?

The primary outcome of independent assortment during meiosis is genetic diversity. Independent assortment refers to the process by which different genes independently separate from one another when reproductive cells develop. This occurs during metaphase I of meiosis, where homologous chromosome pairs align at the cell's equatorial plate. The orientation of these chromosomes is random, meaning that each resulting gamete can contain a different mix of maternal and paternal chromosomes.

This random distribution of chromosomes leads to a significant increase in the genetic variation of offspring. When combined with the processes of crossing over (where sections of DNA are exchanged between homologous chromosomes), independent assortment contributes to the unique genetic combinations that are a hallmark of sexual reproduction. The genetic diversity produced is crucial for evolution and adaptation in changing environments, as it provides a wider range of traits for natural selection to act upon.