Answer:
Meiosis I significantly increases the level of genetic variation due to Independent assortment Crossing over (genetic recombination)
Step-by-step explanation:
Meiosis I significantly increases the level of genetic variation due to two key processes:
Independent assortment: During meiosis I, homologous chromosomes segregate independently into daughter cells. This means that the assortment of maternal and paternal chromosomes in a gamete is random. The number of possible combinations is 2^n, where n is the number of chromosome pairs. This random assortment contributes to genetic diversity.
Crossing over (genetic recombination): Homologous chromosomes exchange genetic material during a process called crossing over. This occurs at points called chiasmata, where non-sister chromatids of homologous chromosomes break and exchange segments. Crossing over results in a shuffling of genetic material between homologous chromosomes, creating new combinations of alleles on the chromatids. This process introduces additional genetic variation among the resulting gametes.