Final answer:
Independent assortment is most observable during metaphase I of meiosis, where homologous chromosomes align at the equatorial plane in random orientations, resulting in genetic diversity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phase of meiosis where independent assortment is most likely to be observed is during metaphase I. In this stage, the homologous chromosomes line up at the equatorial plane in random orientations, which leads to the production of genetically diverse gametes. This randomness is crucial because it ensures that each gamete can contain any combination of paternal and maternal chromosomes, significantly contributing to genetic variation. For example, considering a eukaryotic organism with a set of two chromosomes (n = 2), at the equatorial plane in metaphase I, there are two possible arrangements which lead to four possible genetic combinations of gametes. The principle of independent assortment states that genes for different traits can segregate independently during the formation of gametes.