Answer
Crossing over is the process where genetic material can be exchanged between nonsister chromatids at more than one location. Independent assortment is the chance/random nature by which each member of a homologous pair goes to a daughter cell (beware that this is not the case in linked genes). Crossing over and independent assortment both contribute to genetic differences because they essentially allow for far more genetic variation through the swapping of genetic information/creation of new combinations of genetic information (crossing over) and random combinations of chromosomes during meiosis (independent assortment).
Work Step by Step
Crossing over is the process where genetic material can be exchanged between nonsister chromatids at more than one location. Independent assortment is the chance/random nature by which each member of a homologous pair goes to a daughter cell (beware that this is not the case in linked genes). Crossing over and independent assortment both contribute to genetic differences because they essentially allow for far more genetic variation through the swapping of genetic information/creation of new combinations of genetic information (crossing over) and random combinations of chromosomes during meiosis (independent assortment).
