Recombination

From EvoWiki

Introduction

Recombination is a process which has the effect of shuffling alleles to create new genotypes (producing genetic variation). Recombination is an important evolutionary process as it allows beneficial mutations to survive in the gene pool without having their effects countered by being paired, by chance, with harmful mutations (allowing gene selection rather than just individual selection to take place).

In Eukaryotes

In Eukaryotic organisms which reproduce sexually crossing over takes place. During Prophase I of meiosis, the process which creates gametes (i.e. sperm or egg) homologous chromatids line up and at certain homologous sites join together, the DNA molecule is cut and sections are exchanged. This reduces the genetic linkage of alleles on this chromosome.

References & sources

• Wikipedia: Genetic recombination
• Russel, P.J., 2003. iGenetics. San Francisco: Benjamin Cummins.