Which of the following is not true regarding crossover during meiosis?

• A. Crossover increases genetic variation.
• B. Crossover occurs between homologous chromosomes.
• C. Crossover occurs during prophase II of meiosis.
• D. Crossover involves the exchange of genetic material.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that crossover is a process that occurs during meiosis, specifically during prophase I, not prophase II. This is a key point to identify the incorrect statement.
2. Recall that meiosis is divided into two stages: meiosis I and meiosis II. Prophase I is where homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange segments, a process known as crossing over.
3. Recognize that crossing over increases genetic variation by allowing the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes, leading to new combinations of alleles.
4. Identify that the statement 'Crossover occurs during prophase II of meiosis' is incorrect because crossover actually occurs during prophase I.
5. Conclude that the correct answer to the problem is the statement that incorrectly describes the timing of crossover during meiosis.