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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Crossing over Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD