Half an organism's chromosomes come each parent. these are referred to as maternal and paternal chromosomes. which statement describes how independent assortment in meiosis produces genetically distinct daughter cells? maternal and paternal chromosomes in each homologous pair are randomly arranged on each side of the cell's equatormaternal and paternal chromosomes in each homologous pair exchange overlapping segments of genetic material. maternal and paternal chromosomes are separated from each other by spindle fibers during meiosis i. maternal and paternal chromosomes are separated from each other by spindle fibers during meiosis ii.