Two genes, A and B, are found on the same chromosome. One homologous chromosome carries alleles A and B, whereas the other homologous chromosome carries alleles a and b. If genes A and B are so closely linked that the recombination frequency is 0%, only AB and ab gametes will be produced during meiosis.

a. true
b. false

genetic variation can be caused by mutation (which can create entirely new alleles in a population), random mating, random fertilization, and recombination between homologous chromosomes during meiosis (which reshuffles alleles within an organism's offspring).

both male and female gametes are produced by meiosis of the germ cells. therefore, both male and female gametes are haploid. one male and one female gamete unite during the fertilization to form the diploid zygote. in seed bearing plants, pollen grain is the male gametophyte, which produces sperm cells.