Crossing over is also referred to as DNA recombination and occurs in prophase I of meiosis I during cell divisions of sex cells. It is a process by while non-sister chromatids exchange their genetic materials. Crossing over is important in maintaining the genetic variations withing a given population of living organisms. since the composition of genetic material of offspring is different from that of their parents as result of crossing over, they may have some survival advantages not found in their parents.
