During meiosis, genetic information is exchanged between the maternally and paternally inherited copies of a pair of chromosomes in order to create new combinations of genes. This process of recombination helps to increase genetic variability within a species. It allows for the transmission of virtually limitless combinations of genes from parent to offspring. The resulting gametes have new chromosomes, one member of each of the 23 pairs, representing unique combinations of the original maternal and paternal copies.