Each pair of homologous chromosomes consists of one chromosome inherited from the father and one from the mother. Here, we have color coded them blue and red. Each pair of chromosomes lines up independently of the other pairs in metaphase I of meiosis. Here you can see one of the possible arrangements and outcomes. Let us rearrange the chromosomes to get different arrangements and outcomes. There are two different ways that each chromosome pair can line up. That means that in the organism shown here, with a diploid number of four, independent assortment of chromosomes at metaphase I can produce gametes with four different combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes. In a human being, with 46 chromosomes, more than eight million combinations are possible.