Genetic recombination is a biological process that occurs during the formation of reproductive cells, such as sperm and eggs. It involves the exchange of genetic material between paired chromosomes, leading to new combinations of genes. This process increases genetic diversity within a population, which is essential for evolution and adaptation. During meiosis, the type of cell division that produces gametes, homologous chromosomes align and can swap segments of DNA. This shuffling of genetic information ensures that offspring inherit a mix of traits from both parents, contributing to variations in characteristics like appearance and disease resistance.