Which of the following processes increases genetic diversity in sexually reproducing organisms?

The process that increases genetic diversity in sexually reproducing organisms is crossing over. This occurs during meiosis, specifically in prophase I, when homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange segments of their genetic material. This exchange produces new combinations of alleles, leading to offspring that are genetically distinct from either parent. The significance of crossing over lies in its ability to shuffle alleles and create variations that may provide an adaptive advantage in changing environments, enhancing the overall genetic variability within a population.

In contrast, mitosis is a process for cell division that results in two identical daughter cells, maintaining the same genetic information, and thus does not contribute to genetic diversity. Cytokinesis is simply the division of the cytoplasm that follows mitosis or meiosis and does not involve any exchange of genetic material. Cloning involves producing genetically identical organisms and, therefore, also does not introduce genetic diversity. Hence, crossing over stands out as the pivotal mechanism in enhancing genetic variation among sexually reproducing organisms.