What is the importance of crossing over and independent assortment?
O It allows for exact copies of the cells to be made
It allows for mitosis to occur properly
O It allows for genetic variation within species
It allows for the same gametes to be produced every time
In meiosis I, crossing over during prophase and independent assortment during anaphase creates sets of chromosomes with new combinations of alleles. Genetic variation is also introduced by random fertilization of the gametes produced by meiosis.