Statement A: Meiosis brings about variations in the offspringStatement B: Crossing over takes place during meiotic prophase I

Meiosis causes variations in the offspring because genetic recombination takes place during the process of crossing over between homologous chromosomes in pachytene of Prophase I. Another reason for variations is behavior of one pair of chromosomes independent to another pair of chromosomes during metaphase I and their segregation in anaphase I.