Question

Is crossing over and recombination the same thing?

Answer 1

Recombination and crossing over plays an important role when it comes to genetic variations. It takes place usually in eukaryotic cells through meiosis. Both of them help in having variations in the offspring.

Complete answer:
Both recombination and crossing over play a major role in genetic variations among the offspring. Both these events take place during the prophase 1 of meiosis 1 in eukaryotes. Pairing of the homologous chromosomes during prophase 1 helps in crossing over to occur and crossing between non- sister chromatids for recombination to occur. Let us firstly know about recombination and crossing over:
1. RECOMBINATION- Genetic recombination is a natural process in which the offspring is produced with different combinations of traits compared to their parents. It leads to formation of genetic recombination. It produces genetic variations among the offspring and works as a repair mechanism for double strand breaks during the process of recombination.
2. CROSSING OVER- It refers to the exchange of DNA segments between the non- sister chromatids during synapsis. It helps in the exchange of genetic information and production of new combinations of alleles. It exerts genetic recombination between the chromosomes. Crossing over exerts genetic recombination between chromosomes. Crossing over occurs at a point called chiasma that helps in creation between non- sister chromatids. Chiasma helps in the exchange of DNA in these chromatids to form new combinations of alleles among the offspring that are genetically recombination.
No, both recombination and crossing over are not the same thing. Main difference between them is that the recombination is the production of different combinations of alleles in the offspring whereas when we talk about crossing over it is the exchange of genetic material between non- sister chromatids.

Note:
Homologous recombination is the process by which two chromosomes that are paired during meiosis exchange their DNA portion. Both recombination and crossover occurs due to homologous recombination only. What event will occur will depend upon the sequence or locus on which the base pairs.