The term ‘Crossing over’ was used by Morgan and Cattell. It is a process in which there is exchange of chromosome segments between non-sister chromatids of a homologous chromosomes. It occurs during pachytene stage of prophase I of meiosis cell division.
Significance of crossing over:
Crossing over provides genetic variation in all sexually reproducing organisms.
It creates new combination of genes or genetic recombination and produces hybrids.
