How does sexual reproduction result in variation of characters in the offspring

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.