Final answer:
Homologous recombination takes place during meiosis and involves synapsis, crossing over, and recombination, which contribute to genetic diversity by shuffling alleles between maternal and paternal chromosomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Homologous recombination is a pivotal mechanism in meiosis that ensures genetic diversity. This process includes several steps, starting with synapsis during prophase I of meiosis, where homologous chromosomes pair up. Next, crossing over occurs, involving the reciprocal exchange of DNA segments between non-sister chromatids within a tetrad formation.
During synapsis, homologous chromosomes align gene-for-gene, allowing for precise crossing over. The exchange of genetic material can occur multiple times along the chromosome arms, shuffling alleles between the maternal and paternal chromosomes. As a result, the offspring inherit a mix of maternal and paternal alleles, which is a primary source of genetic diversity. Recombination does not alter the gene order; instead, it combines alleles onto the same chromosome, creating novel genetic combinations.