Crossing over

Crossing over is a process that occurs during meiosis, where two chromosomes pair up and exchange segments of their genetic material. This process results in a recombination of parental genes, which is a significant factor in the genetic diversity of offspring.

Overview

During the early stages of meiosis, homologous chromosomes come together in a process known as synapsis. During synapsis, the chromosomes align closely together and form a structure known as a tetrad. It is within this tetrad structure that crossing over occurs.

Crossing over involves the exchange of genetic material between non-sister chromatids. This exchange results in a physical swap of equivalent pieces of DNA, creating new combinations of genes within the chromosomes. The points at which crossing over occurs are known as chiasma.

Significance

Crossing over is a crucial process in the generation of genetic diversity. By creating new combinations of genes, crossing over contributes to the unique genetic makeup of individual organisms within a species. This genetic diversity is a key factor in evolution, as it allows for the natural selection of beneficial traits.

See also

• Genetic recombination
• Meiosis
• Chromosome
• DNA

References

Crossing over Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.

Translate to: East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski