Crossover

Crossover is a term used across disciplines to describe the act of combining elements from different sources or domains. In everyday usage, it can refer to the blending or intersection of features from two or more things, or to the mix itself.

In biology, crossing over refers to the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis. This genetic recombination creates new allele combinations and contributes to genetic diversity in offspring. The process typically occurs during prophase I, facilitated by the synaptonemal complex and chiasmata; the frequency varies by organism and chromosome, influencing linkage and evolution.

In signal processing and audio, a crossover network directs different frequency ranges to appropriate loudspeaker drivers, for example high-pass to tweeters and low-pass to woofers. Crossovers may be passive, using capacitors and inductors, or active, using powered filters before amplification. Proper design considers phase, impedance, and distortion to preserve sound quality.

In transportation, a crossover is a type of vehicle, the crossover SUV, built on a car-based platform with unibody construction and higher ride height. In computer science, genetic algorithms use crossover operations to combine two parent solutions into offspring, a form of recombination that explores the solution space. In popular culture, crossovers describe events or works that merge characters or settings from different fictional universes or franchises.