Answer to Question #189730 in Genetics for Muhammed Islam

Question

Evaluate the significance of chromosomal behaviour during cell division. Provide justified arguments for and against the behaviour of independent assortment and crossing over leading to variation within an organism.

Answer 1

The fundamental importance of chromosomes is that they contain DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, the substance that contains every organism's genetic code.

Because of recombination and independent assortment in meiosis, each gamete contains a different set of DNA. This produces a unique combination of genes in the resulting zygote. Recombination or crossing over occurs during prophase I.