How would genetic variation be affected if during meiosis i maternal chromosomes always lined up together on one side of the metaphase plate and paternal chromosomes always lined up on the other side (ignoring the effects of crossing over)?
a. gametes would contain either maternal chromosomes only or paternal chromosomes only.
b. gametes would contain maternal chromosomes only.
c. gametes would contain different combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes.
d. gametes would contain paternal chromosomes only.

C: Gametes would contain different combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes.

Explanation:

The metaphase plate is a region around the center of the cell that is approximately equidistant from the two poles of the cell. It is a structure that indicates that an actively dividing cell is in metaphase stage.

During the metaphase stage of meiosis I, bivalent chromosomes align at the metaphase plate and spindles from the opposing poles of the cell engage each chromosome in the bivalents. The chromosomes are then pulled apart at as a result of shortening of the spindles at the anaphase.

If at metaphase I, maternal chromosomes (in form of bivalents) lined up on one side of the plate and paternal chromosomes (in form of bivalents) on the other side, each bivalent will still be separated into their component chromosomes and pulled to the opposite poles. This thus means  that the initial two daughter cells that will be formed at the end of meiosis I will have both maternal and paternal chromosomes.

At the end of meiosis II, the gametes formed from such division will have different combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes.