Answer:
During meiosis, the process of cell division that occurs in the production of gametes (eggs and sperm cells), there is a process called crossing over that occurs. This process involves the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes.
Crossing over leads to greater variability of phenotypes because it allows for the mixing and shuffling of genetic material between chromosomes, resulting in the production of gametes with new combinations of genetic information. These new combinations of genetic information can result in the expression of different traits and characteristics, leading to greater variability among offspring.
For example, consider a plant with red flowers and a plant with white flowers that are both homozygous for their respective flower color. If these plants produce gametes through meiosis and crossing over occurs between the chromosomes responsible for flower color, the offspring of these plants may have a variety of different flower colors, such as pink or coral, due to the mixing and shuffling of genetic material that occurred during crossing over. This increased variability in flower color is a result of crossing over leading to the production of gametes with new combinations of genetic information.
Step-by-step explanation: