How can offspring have traits that neither parent has during meiosis?

• A. By inheriting only dominant alleles from both parents
• B. Through the process of crossing over during prophase I
• C. By random fertilization of gametes
• D. Due to mutations occurring during mitosis

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, creating four haploid cells, each genetically distinct from the parent cell.
2. Learn about crossing over, which occurs during prophase I of meiosis. This is when homologous chromosomes exchange segments of DNA, leading to new combinations of alleles.
3. Recognize that crossing over results in genetic recombination, which can produce offspring with traits that are not present in either parent.
4. Consider the role of random fertilization, where the combination of gametes from two parents can lead to offspring with unique genetic makeups.
5. Understand that mutations, although rare, can occur during cell division processes like mitosis and meiosis, potentially introducing new traits in offspring.