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What is crossing over in meiosis?

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Last updated date: 28th Sep 2024
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Hint: Meiosis is a kind of cell division that creates four gamete cells by halving the number of chromosomes in the parent cell. For sexual reproduction, this procedure is necessary to generate egg and sperm cells. When sperm and egg combine to create a single cell during reproduction, the number of chromosomes in the child is restored.

Complete answer:
Crossing over is a characteristic feature of meiosis and can be understood in the below points.
Tetrads are formed when homologous chromosomes align up with one another during the pachytene stage of prophase I stage during meiotic division.
DNA sequences can be transferred across homologous chromosomes during this lining up process. Crossing over is a kind of genetic recombination that permits meiosis daughter cells to be genetically distinct from one another.
Crossing over can only happen between chromosomes that are homologous. After meiosis I, cells become haploid and can no longer cross across.
Crossing over is a genetic diversity-increasing event that occurs between homologous chromosomes. A portion of one chromosome is exchanged with another during crossing over. As a consequence, a hybrid chromosome with a distinct pattern of genetic material has been created.
When gametes cross across, they obtain the capacity to be genetically distinct from their neighbours. This provides for genetic variety, which aids in the survival of the fittest and evolution of cells.

Note:
Crossing over is required for proper chromosome segregation during meiosis. Crossing over also accounts for genetic diversity since the chromatids kept together by the centromere are no longer similar owing to genetic material shifting during crossing over. As a result, when the chromosomes split during meiosis II, some daughter cells acquire daughter chromosomes containing recombined alleles. The kids have a different collection of alleles and genes than their parents as a result of genetic recombination.