What process during meiosis is primarily responsible for genetic variation?

• A. Cytokinesis
• B. DNA replication
• C. Crossing over
• D. Mitosis

Answer: (C)

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. Recognize that genetic variation is crucial for evolution and adaptation, and meiosis contributes to this variation through several mechanisms.
3. Identify 'crossing over' as the process during meiosis that is primarily responsible for genetic variation. This occurs during prophase I of meiosis.
4. During crossing over, homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange segments of genetic material. This recombination results in new combinations of alleles on each chromosome.
5. Appreciate that crossing over increases genetic diversity by producing chromosomes with different genetic combinations, which are then passed on to offspring.