The “Father of Genetics” is: ((MCAER 2014))

✅Explanation: Crossing over, the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes, takes place during the pachytene stage of meiosis I. This process is crucial for genetic diversity.

📌 Other Options Explanations:
-Option A: Leptotene is the initial stage of meiosis I, where chromosomes become visible.
-Option B: Zygotene is the stage where homologous chromosomes pair up.
-Option D: Diplotene is the stage where the homologous chromosomes begin to separate.

🔑Key Points:
Crossing over, or recombination is a process that occurs during meiosis, specifically in the Prophase I stage. 
Crossing over is the exchange of genetic material (segments of DNA) between homologous chromosomes. Homologous chromosomes are similar chromosomes, one inherited from each parent, that pair up during meiosis. This exchange of genetic material creates genetic diversity because the chromosomes that result from this process have new combinations of maternal and paternal genes.

• Here are the basic steps of crossing over:
-During prophase I of meiosis, homologous chromosomes pair up closely in a process known as synapsis.
-In areas called chiasmata, non-sister chromatids (one chromatid from each of the two homologous chromosomes) physically exchange corresponding segments of genetic material.
-As a result of crossing over, the chromosomes that end up in the new cells after meiosis are different from the ones that went into meiosis.
-This process increases the genetic variability in offspring, which is beneficial for the survival of the population, particularly in changing environmental conditions.