Chromosomal crossover, or crossing over, is the exchange of genetic material between two homologous chromosomes non-sister chromatids that results in recombinant chromosomes during sexual reproduction. It is one of the final phases of genetic recombination. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromosomal_crossover)
Epimerases are isomerase enzymes that catalyze the inversion of stereochemistry in biological molecules. Epimerases catalyze the stereochemical inversion of the configuration about an asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate having more than one center of asymmetry, thus interconverting epimers. (Wikipedia, 2024. Epimerase and racemase https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epimerase_and_racemase)
Hemeproteins whose characteristic mode of action involves transfer of reducing equivalents which are associated with a reversible change in oxidation state of the prosthetic group. (DeCS/MESH. 2025. Cytochromes. https://decs.bvsalud.org/en/ths/resource/?id=3598)
Excretion is elimination of metabolic waste, which is an essential process in all organisms. In vertebrates, this is primarily carried out by the lungs, kidneys, and skin. (Wikipedia, 2024. Excretion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excretion)
Diazotrophy is the metabolic ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen into a biologically useful form (i.e., ammonia). (Peretó J. (2011) Diazotrophy. In: Gargaud M. et al. (eds) Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11274-4_426)
A reaction that severs one of the covalent sugar-phosphate linkages between nucleotides that compose the sugar phosphate backbone of DNA. It is catalyzed enzymatically, chemically or by radiation. Cleavage may be exonucleolytic - removing the end nucleotide, or endonucleolytic - splitting the strand in two. (National Library of Medicine. MeSH (Medical Subject Headings), 2025, 'DNA cleavage', http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D053837)
The insertion of recombinant DNA molecules from prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic sources into a replicating vehicle, such as a plasmid or virus vector, and the introduction of the resultant hybrid molecules into recipient cells without altering the viability of those cells. (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/cgi/mesh/2010/MB_cgi?mode=&term=Cloning,+Molecular&field=entry#TreeE05.393.220)
