What are chiasmata ? State their significance.

Chiasmata is the X-shaped structure formed due to the point of contact between paired chromatids during meiosis. It is the point representing the crossover where the homologous chromosomes are joined to each other.

• Significance: At chiasmata crossing over occurs in the pachytene stage. The genetic constitution of the daughter cells differs from the parent cells due to crossing over. There is a mixture of the paternal and maternal gene in each chromosome of daughter cells mostly.