Recombination
Sexual reproduction doesn't create new genes - it shuffles existing ones into combinations that never existed before. M&A works the same way: 2024-2025 research shows digital acquisitions significantly enhance technological diversification by enabling 'cross-domain recombination of knowledge elements' - combining data engineers with traditional engineers creates capabilities neither had alone.
Sexual reproduction shuffles existing genetic variants through meiotic recombination (crossover between homologous chromosomes). While not creating new mutations, recombination generates new combinations, increasing variation. Recombination rates are also evolvable - some organisms have high recombination (most sexual species), others suppress it (asexual lineages, regions near centromeres). Recombination hotspots concentrate genetic shuffling in specific genomic regions, increasing variation for traits under strong selection (immune genes, reproductive genes) while preserving essential housekeeping genes.
Business Application of Recombination
Organizational recombination - combining existing capabilities in new ways through team restructuring, cross-functional projects, or business unit combinations - generates variation without requiring entirely new capabilities. This is lower-risk than radical innovation.