Final answer:
Daughter chromosomes moving toward opposite poles during meiosis II are non-identical due to crossover and independent assortment in earlier meiosis I stages. This genetic shuffling contributes to genetic variation in the resulting gametes.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of meiosis, the daughter chromosomes that are moving towards opposite poles during anaphase II are not identical. This diversity is due to the process of crossover, which occurs during meiosis I, ensuring that each daughter chromosome carries a unique combination of genetic material.
The initial separation of homologous chromosomes occurs in meiosis I, also known as the reduction division, where the ploidy level is halved. In contrast, meiosis II is analogous to mitosis, where sister chromatids are separated, but due to prior crossover events, the resulting daughter chromosomes are genetically distinct.
During metaphase I, tetrads (pairs of homologous chromosomes) line up along the metaphase plate randomly, with the orientation of each independent from others.
This randomness, called independent assortment, contributes to the genetic variation in gametes. Therefore, when we consider the question about the identity of daughter chromosomes, we must understand that due to crossover and independent assortment, they are non-identical.