Final answer:
The principle of independent assortment is best illustrated by events that take place during metaphase II of meiosis. Sister chromatids segregate independently of each other, leading to the production of genetically different gametes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The principle of independent assortment is best illustrated by events that take place during metaphase II of meiosis. During metaphase II, sister chromatids segregate independently of each other, leading to the production of genetically different gametes. This means that the alleles on one pair of homologous chromosomes separate and assort independently of the alleles on other homologous pairs of chromosomes.
For example, let's consider a cell with two chromosomes (n = 2). In this case, there are four possible genetic combinations that can be produced. The total number of different gametes is calculated using the formula 2n, where n is the number of chromosomes in a set.