Mechanism of Crossing Over Crossing over is a precise process that includes stages like synapsis, tetrad formation, cross over and terminalization.
(i) Synapsis: Intimate pairing between two homologous chromosomes is initiated during zygotene stage of prophase I of meiosis I. Homologous chromosomes are aligned side by side resulting in a pair of homologous chromosomes called bivalents. This pairing phenomenon is called synapsis or syndesis. It is of three types,
1. Procentric synapsis: Pairing starts from middle of the chromosome.
2. Proterminal synapsis: Pairing starts from the telomeres.
3. Random synapsis: Pairing may start from anywhere.
(ii) Tetrad Formation: Each homologous chromosome of a bivalent begin to form two identical sister chromatids, which remain held together by a centromere. At this stage each bivalent has four chromatids. This stage is called tetrad stage.
(iii) Cross Over: After tetrad formation, crossing over occurs in pachytene stage. The non-sister chromatids of homologous pair make a contact at one or more points. These points of contact between non-sister chromatids of homologous chromosomes are called Chiasmata (singular-Chiasma). At chiasma, cross-shaped or X-shaped structures are formed, where breaking and rejoining of two chromatids occur. This results in reciprocal exchange of equal and corresponding segments between them. Synapsis and chiasma formation are facilitated by a highly organised structure of filaments called Synaptonemal Complex (SC). This synaptonemal complex formation is absent in some species of male Drosophila. Hence crossing over does not takes place.
