Anaphase I is a stage in the process of meiosis, which is the type of cell division that produces gametes, such as sperm and eggs. During this phase, the homologous chromosomes, which are pairs of similar chromosomes inherited from each parent, are pulled apart and move toward opposite poles of the cell. This separation ensures that each daughter cell will receive one chromosome from each pair. As the chromosomes are pulled apart, the cell begins to elongate, preparing for the next phase of meiosis. Anaphase I is crucial for genetic diversity, as it reduces the chromosome number by half and allows for the random assortment of chromosomes, contributing to variation in the resulting gametes.