Enzyme recombinase has a significant role during the gamete formation. In which phase is it active?

Options

A. prophase - I
B. prophase - II
C. metaphase - I
D. anaphase - II

Answer

To determine the phase in which the enzyme recombinase is active during gamete formation, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Recombinase**:
- Recombinase is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the process of genetic recombination, specifically during the crossing over of chromosomes.

2. **Identifying the Process**:
- Crossing over is a process that occurs during meiosis, which is the type of cell division that leads to the formation of gametes (sperm and eggs).

3. **Meiosis Phases**:
- Meiosis consists of two main stages: Meiosis I and Meiosis II.
- Each of these stages is further divided into phases:
- Meiosis I: Prophase I, Metaphase I, Anaphase I, Telophase I
- Meiosis II: Prophase II, Metaphase II, Anaphase II, Telophase II

4. **Location of Crossing Over**:
- Crossing over occurs during Meiosis I, specifically in Prophase I. This is when homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange segments of genetic material.

5. **Eliminating Other Phases**:
- Since crossing over does not occur in Meiosis II, we can eliminate all options related to Meiosis II (Prophase II and Metaphase II).
- In Metaphase I, the chromosomes are aligned but the crossing over has already taken place in Prophase I.

6. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the enzyme recombinase is active during Prophase I of Meiosis I.

### Final Answer:
The enzyme recombinase is active during **Prophase I**.

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