Question

In what 2 ways does meiosis provide genetic variation? Explain how each provides genetic variety.

Answer 1

Just going to say the whole process of meiosis creates variation.
a) Random alignment: Where the cells line up into to be separated, it has randomly so to create some variation
b) Crossing over: Before the final cells are produced, the haploid chromosomes cross over, swapping some information for each other. This creates an even more random chromosome, that is fundamentally different to the original.  

Answer 2

Hello.  Happy to help you.  I just finished studying Genetics in Biology.  :)  My mind is fresh.  If you need more help, message me.

Meiosis is cell division specific to sex cells and involves more than the simple copying of genetic material that occurs during mitosis.  Most of the cells in the human body contain 46 chromosomes, half from the mother and half from the father.  (A human karyotype has a total of 46 chromosomes).  These are diploid cells.  The goal of meiosis is to create reproductive haploid cells, which are cells with only 23 chromosomes.  This is necessary so that, after fertilization, an offspring's cells contain the appropriate chromosome number.  Meiosis also provides for the random alignment and recombination of genetic material that ensures a person is never a copy of one parent or the other.

Chromosomes exist in pairs as homologous chromosomes.  One chromosome from each pair comes from the maternal parent, the other from the paternal parent.  During meiosis, homologous chromosomes separate independently.  Independent assortment means that there is no mechanism by which these chromosomes associate with one another.  Because of this, the sex cells that are the end product of meiosis may contain any combination of maternal and paternal chromosomes.  In other words, meiosis is the process by which most eukaryotic organisms, those with cells having an organized nucleus, produces sex cells, the male and female gametes.  Cells normally have two copies of each chromosome, one donated from each parent.  This is the diploid chromosome condition and the paired chromosomes are called homologous.  Meiosis transforms a diploid cell into four haploid granddaughter cells, each having a single copy of each chromosome.  The process helps increase the genetic diversity of a species.

Sometimes, when homologous chromosomes are paired, each may lose a small portion that then reconnects to the other member of the pair.  This is crossing over.  When crossing over occurs, homologous chromosomes trade genetic material with one another.

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