When the homologous chromosomes pair up on the equator during part 1 of meiosis, sections of genetic material can be exchanged between the inner chromatids of the chromosomes. This results in a reshuffling of alleles, called recombination. This increases genetic variation by creating new combinations of alleles not found in the parents.

Therefore crossing over/recombination is the process whereby there is an exchange of sections of homologous chromosomes resulting in different allele combinations than were present in either parent. This makes chromatids unique and therefore increase genetic variation within the gametes.

Because recombination is random, its effect on the level of variation is different in each case, but has the potential to add significant changes to the already high degree of variability caused by independent assortment.

	Created by mckenziedev about 11 years ago

1 Biology (AS91157 Genetic Variation & Change) Note on Genetic Variation, created by mckenziedev on 15/09/2013.