Answer:
1) An increase in offspring variation
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the key feature of meiosis is the crossing over that allows exchange of genes among homologous chromosomes coming from both parents (mother and father). This process is very crucial and also the foundation of evolution because it increases the genetic diversity in the offsprings and helps them survive better in changing environmental conditions. The more distant parents will have children with more diverse genetic material as compared to those who are less distant (e.g. first cousins).
This is also the reason that first cousin marriages results into genetic diseases in offsprings. However, when the parents belong to two different ethnicities, it is almost impossible that they their children will have genetic diseases.