Final answer:
The false statement is that chromosomes can cross over during mitosis to exchange segments of DNA; crossing over and recombination occur during meiosis, not mitosis. so, option 5 is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement about genetic recombination that is FALSE is: 'during mitosis, chromosomes can cross over and exchange segments of DNA so that chromosomes of gametes are different from those of their parents'. This statement is false because crossing over and genetic recombination typically occur during meiosis, not mitosis. During meiosis, homologous chromosomes pair up and can exchange segments of their genetic material to form recombinant chromosomes, which contributes to genetic variation. However, during mitosis, which is the process of cell division for growth or repair in the body, the chromosomes replicate but do not typically engage in crossing over.
The false statement about genetic recombination is option 1) genetic recombination acts independently of independent assortment. In reality, genetic recombination occurs during meiosis, specifically in the form of crossing over, which involves the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes. This process leads to new combinations of alleles, increasing genetic variation within populations of organisms. Genetic recombination is important to the process of natural selection because it introduces new genetic information that can be acted upon by selective pressures in the environment.