How do cross-over and independent assortment lead to genetic diversity during meiosis?

1 Answer
Rawda Eada
Dec 4, 2015

Independent assortment means on one side of the cell, some paternal and some maternal chromosomes are available, and the same on the other, so each new cell will get a mix of chromosomes so the individual will not be exactly the same as one parent. Crossing over even leads to a more complex mix as the one chromosome on one side (could be paternal) exchanges some genetic material with the the homologous one on the other side (in this case the maternal one) so the chromosome that will reach the zygote will be by itself a mixture of paternal and maternal pieces.

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