Both mitosis and meiosis are 2N at this stage. Now the chromosomes line up as in mitosis, but there is only one pair of chromosomes for each chromosome, not 2 as in normal mitosis. E Chromosomes separate. F Daughter cells are now 1N, each with a mix of maternal and paternal chromosomes, but have a complete 1N set of all the chromosomes. Crossover explains how traits on the same chromosome, but coming from different parents can be recombined.
Crossover occurs at Stage Meiosis A as seen in the graphic overhead.
This is when the maternal and paternal chromosomes are in close proximity to each other. Taken together, meiosis and crossover, the possibilities of recombining of genetic information are immense. This gives sexual reproduction a significant advantage over asexual reproduction.