Final answer:
A dicentric bridge is a structure that forms when a crossover occurs between chromosomes that have undergone a pericentric inversion in meiosis, resulting in tension and instability. It may lead to unequal division of genetic material and potential mutations.
Step-by-step explanation:
A dicentric bridge is a structure that forms when a crossover occurs between chromosomes that have undergone a pericentric inversion. In a pericentric inversion, a segment of the chromosome is reversed, including the centromere.
During meiosis, when homologous chromosomes pair up, the inverted chromosome pairs with the normal chromosome, resulting in a dicentric bridge.
The dicentric bridge is formed when the inverted centromere on one chromatid attaches to the normal centromere on the other chromatid, causing tension and instability. In anaphase, the dicentric bridge may break, leading to unequal division of genetic material and potential mutations.