Which of the following processes leads to genetic diversity through the mixing of genetic material?

The process that leads to genetic diversity through the mixing of genetic material is meiosis. This specialized form of cell division occurs in sexually reproducing organisms and results in the formation of gametes—sperm and egg cells. During meiosis, genetic variation is introduced primarily through two key mechanisms: independent assortment and crossing over.

During independent assortment, homologous chromosomes are distributed randomly into gametes. This means that the combination of chromosomes that each gamete receives is unique, contributing to genetic variation among offspring.

Crossing over occurs during prophase I of meiosis, where segments of DNA are exchanged between homologous chromosomes. This exchange leads to new combinations of alleles on each chromosome, further increasing genetic diversity.

In contrast, mitosis, replication, and transcription are processes that do not contribute to genetic diversity. Mitosis results in two genetically identical daughter cells and is primarily involved in growth and repair. Replication is the process of copying DNA to ensure that genetic information is passed on during cell division, while transcription is the process by which RNA is synthesized from a DNA template, facilitating gene expression without altering the genetic makeup.