Final answer:
Crossing-over occurs during prophase I of meiosis and is the exchange of genetic material between non-sister chromatids of homologous chromosomes. This process creates genetic variation and leads to the production of genetically diverse offspring.
Step-by-step explanation:
Crossing-over occurs during prophase I of meiosis. It is the exchange of genetic material between non-sister chromatids of homologous chromosomes. This process, also known as recombination, creates unique combinations of genes and contributes to genetic variation. The exchange of genetic material can happen multiple times within the same pair of homologous chromosomes, resulting in the production of genetically diverse offspring.