Final answer:
Homologous chromosomes do not behave independently in mitosis; they are aligned and separated at the metaphase plate as sister chromatids. In meiosis I, it is the homologous chromosomes that align and segregate independently, contributing to genetic diversity in the resulting haploid cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
Homologues behave independently in mitosis? This is not entirely accurate. In mitosis, homologous chromosomes do not pair up and segregate independently as they do in meiosis. Instead, during mitotic metaphase, each chromosome is lined up at the metaphase plate, and the sister chromatids, not the homologous chromosomes, are separated and pulled to opposite poles during anaphase.
During meiosis, especially in meiosis I, homologous chromosome pairs align and segregate independently during anaphase I, leading to the random assortment of paternal and maternal homologs. This results in genetically unique haploid cells following telophase II and cytokinesis. This is in contrast to mitosis, where the main goal is to produce two genetically identical daughter cells.