In which process do homologous chromosomes separate into daughter cells?

In the process of meiosis I, homologous chromosomes separate into daughter cells. Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half and is essential for producing gametes—sperm and eggs in animals. During meiosis I, the homologous chromosomes, which consist of one chromosome from each parent, align at the metaphase plate and are then pulled apart to opposite poles of the cell. This separation is crucial as it ensures that each daughter cell receives only one chromosome from each homologous pair, thereby halving the chromosome number from diploid to haploid.

This process is distinct from mitosis, where sister chromatids are separated rather than homologous chromosomes. In mitosis, both sets of chromosomes (one from each parent) remain together until the anaphase stage, where sister chromatids are pulled apart. During meiosis II, the sister chromatids of each chromosome are separated, but at that point, there has already been a reduction in chromosome number from meiosis I. Binary fission, on the other hand, is a form of asexual reproduction in prokaryotes where the cell simply divides to form two identical cells, not involving homologous chromosomes or the complexities of meiotic division.