Independent assortment is the separation of the alleles of a gene into the gametes (sex cells) with no regard to the way in which the alleles of other genes have separated. It takes place during meiosis – the cell division that gives rise to gametes. Theoretically, as a result, all possible combinations of alleles should occur with equal frequency, giving rise to maximum genetic variation. It does not always happen in practice because alleles on the same chromosome are usually inherited together.