Meiosis involves two divisions and results in four unique daughter cells called gametes. Meiosis begins with one parent cell, after the first division there are two daughter cells, and then those each split, resulting in a total of four daughter cells.   

In prophase I chromosomes become compact and homologous chromosomes pair up. Also during prophase I, the nuclear membrane begins to break down and the spindle apparatus begins to form.

In metaphase I, homologous chromosomes line up along the center of the cell in order to be pulled apart. Recall that during meiosis I, homologous chromosomes pair, cross over, and separate. Meiosis II is when the sister chromatids are separated.

Chromatid disjunction occurs in anaphase II after the chromosomes line up along the equator during metaphase II. The chromosomes are then pulled apart, with one chromatid moving north, and one moving south. The next steps are telophase, and cytokinesis, which upon completion, will result in genetically distinct haploid gametes.

Telophase is the final stage of both meiosis I and meiosis II. So telophase II is the final step of the overall process of meiosis. In telophase II, the daughter cells begin to form, the DNA begins to decondense, the nuclear membrane reforms, and the spindle apparatus breaks down. Cytokinesis is the physical splitting of the cell that follows mitosis/meiosis.   

Chromosome disjunction is the splitting up of paired of chromosomes. This occurs in anaphase I and anaphase II where the homologous chromosomes split and the sister chromatids split, respectively. Note that improper disjunction (nondisjunction) can be detrimental to the cell.

Crossing over is the process in Meiosis I in which homologs line up on the metaphase plate and exchange genetic information, which changes the genetic make up of chromosomes. Independent assortment is a principle proposed by Gregory Mendel stating that genes assort independently during gamete formation, which creates genetic diversity. 

During prophase I homologous chromosomes will line up with one another, forming tetrads. During this lining up, DNA sequences can be exchanged between the homologous chromosomes. This type of genetic recombination is called crossing over, and allows the daughter cells of meiosis to be genetically unique from one another.

Crossing over can only occur between homologous chromosomes. Cells become haploid after meiosis I, and can no longer perform crossing over.

Crossing over is a process that happens between homologous chromosomes in order to increase genetic diversity. During crossing over, part of one chromosome is exchanged with another. The result is a hybrid chromosome with a unique pattern of genetic material. Gametes gain the ability to be genetically different from their neighboring gametes after crossing over occurs. This allows for genetic diversity, which will help cells participate in survival of the fittest and evolution.

When chromatids "cross over," homologous chromosomes trade pieces of genetic material, resulting in novel combinations of alleles, though the same genes are still present. Crossing over occurs during prophase I of meiosis before tetrads are aligned along the equator in metaphase I.

By meiosis II, only sister chromatids remain and homologous chromosomes have been moved to separate cells. Recall that the point of crossing over is to increase genetic diversity. If crossing over did not occur until sometime during meiosis II, sister chromatids, which are identical, would be exchanging alleles. Since these chromatids are identical, this swap of material would not actually change the alleles of the chromatids.