In a diploid animal cell, throughout metaphase of mitosis the chromosomes are aligned all along the equator of the cell and, throughout metaphase 1 of meiosis the homologous chromosomes are drawn into pairs and then aligned all along the equator of the cell.
Describe the significance of the different positions of the chromosomes at these phases of mitosis and meiosis, and what does this signify for the kind of progeny cells that result?