Question

Name two ways in which meiotic cell division creates genetic diversity, and explain how each occurs.

a) Crossing over - During prophase I of meiosis, homologous chromosomes exchange genetic material, resulting in new combinations of alleles.
b) Independent assortment - During metaphase I, homologous pairs align randomly at the cell equator, leading to different combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes in daughter cells.

Answer 1

Meiotic cell division creates genetic diversity through crossover and independent assortment.

Step-by-step explanation:

To summarize, meiosis I creates genetically diverse gametes in two ways. First, during prophase I, crossover events between the nonsister chromatids of each homologous pair of chromosomes generate recombinant chromatids with new combinations of maternal and paternal genes. Second, the random assortment of tetrads on the metaphase plate produces unique combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes that will make their way into the gametes.