  Meiotic recombination is a fundamental feature of sexually reproducing
species. It is often required for proper chromosome segregation and plays
important role in adaptation and the maintenance of genetic diversity. The
molecular mechanisms of recombination are remarkably conserved across
eukaryotes, yet meiotic genes and proteins show substantial variation in their
sequence and function, even between closely related species. Furthermore, the
rate and distribution of recombination shows a huge diversity within and
between chromosomes, individuals, sexes, populations, and species. This
variation has implications for many molecular and evolutionary processes, yet
how and why this diversity has evolved is not well understood. A key step in
understanding trait evolution is to determine its genetic basis - that is, the
number, effect sizes, and distribution of loci underpinning variation. In this
perspective, I discuss past and current knowledge on the genetic basis of
variation in recombination rate and distribution, explore its evolutionary
implications, and present open questions for future research.
