Question

Reasons for variation in offspring formed by sexual reproduction

Answer 1

A likely explanation is that the variation that sexual reproduction creates among offspring is very important to the survival and reproduction of those offspring. The only source of variation in asexual organisms is mutation. ... Variation is introduced during meiosis, as well as when the gametes combine in fertilization.

Answer 2

Sexual reproduction allows some of the genetic information from each parent to mix, producing offspring that resemble their parents but are not identical to them.
A likely explanation is that the variation that sexual reproduction creates among offspring is very important to the survival and reproduction of those offspring.