genetic reassortment
Quick Summary
Genetic reassortment is a process that introduces variation into populations. It primarily occurs during meiosis, the process of creating sex cells (gametes). During meiosis, maternal and paternal genes are shuffled, and segments of paired chromosomes are exchanged through a phenomenon called crossing over. This ensures that each resulting sex cell is genetically unique and different from the parent cell.12
In viruses like influenza A, genetic reassortment can lead to significant changes in antigens, the proteins that trigger an immune response. This can result in new strains of viruses, such as H1N1, that humans may have little to no immunity against, potentially causing epidemics or pandemics.3
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
