What happens during meiosis that would allow genes located on the same chromosome to separate independently of one another?

Gregor Mendel, the "father of genetics" discovered genetic
principles for heredity. One is called the Principle of Independent Assortment. In this
principle, genes located on the same chromosome assort independently of one another.
That is because during meiotic division, particularly during metaphase I,  during a
process called synapsis, crossing over occurs. Homologous chromosomes form tetrads and
exchange genes, resulting in new combinations on the chromosomes. Because these
chromosomes were homologous, all that is happening is a rearrangement of similar genes.
Thus, when gametes are made, the order and arrangement of genes becomes shuffled. This
results in great genetic variation even between siblings.