Exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis is called?

• A. Recombination.
• B. Mutation.
• C. Replication.
• D. Transcription.

Answer: (A)

Genetic recombination during meiosis, achieved by crossing over between homologous chromosomes, is being tested. In prophase I, paired homologs swap segments between nonsister chromatids, producing recombinant chromatids with new combinations of alleles. This exchange creates genetic diversity in gametes and offspring. By contrast, mutation would be a change in the DNA sequence itself, replication is the copying of DNA before cell division, and transcription is the synthesis of RNA from DNA.