Answer:
The figure appears to show a pair of homologous chromosomes during the process of meiosis. Meiosis is a type of cell division that occurs in specialized cells called gametes, such as eggs and sperm, in which the number of chromosomes is halved.
During meiosis, homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange genetic material through a process called crossing over. This is visible in the figure as the homologous chromosomes are shown in close proximity to each other, with small sections of their chromatids (the two identical strands that make up each chromosome) visibly swapped with each other.
After crossing over is complete, the homologous chromosomes separate and move to opposite poles of the cell, followed by the final separation of the two sets of chromosomes in the cell. This process produces four genetically unique daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes of the original cell. This is why meiosis is important for sexual reproduction, as it allows for genetic diversity among the offspring.