Which process involves pairing homologous chromosomes for genetic recombination?

The process that involves pairing homologous chromosomes for genetic recombination is meiosis. During meiosis, particularly in prophase I, homologous chromosomes come together in a process known as synapsis. This pairing is crucial because it allows for crossing over, where segments of genetic material are exchanged between the paired chromosomes. This genetic recombination increases genetic diversity in the resulting gametes.

Meiosis consists of two rounds of division and ultimately produces four haploid cells from one diploid cell, ensuring that the resulting gametes have half the original number of chromosomes. This is essential for sexual reproduction, as it allows for the combination of genetic material from two parents, promoting variation in offspring.

The other processes listed do not involve homologous chromosome pairing for recombination. Binary fission is asexual reproduction in prokaryotes, mitosis results in two genetically identical diploid cells from one, and cell differentiation is the process by which generic cells become specialized for specific functions, none of which entails pairing of homologous chromosomes for recombination.