Recombination and Meiosis - MCAT Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

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Question

How does meiosis incorporate genetic variation into the creation of haploid cells?

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Answer

Meiosis only takes place in germ cells and is used to make haploid cells. In order to be genetically unique, chromosomes will exchange DNA sequences in a process called crossing over. This process of exchanging genetic material takes place during prophase I. Somatic cells are never involved in meiosis or crossing over, and DNA will never be deleted or added from the genome. Though separation of tetrads occurs during anaphase I and follows the law of independent assortment, the entire tetrad does not remain joined. This would result in nondisjunction.

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