One process that takes place in meiosis but not in mitosis is genetic recombination or crossing over. This process occurs during meiosis I, specifically in the prophase I stage, where homologous chromosomes exchange genetic material. This recombination increases genetic diversity by shuffling and mixing genetic information from both parents. It is crucial for creating gametes with novel combinations of alleles, contributing to genetic variation in offspring. In mitosis, there is no crossing over as it involves the replication and equal distribution of genetic material to produce identical daughter cells.
