Final answer:
The statement is true; meiosis allows two parents to produce genetically diverse offspring. This is due to processes like crossing-over and random assortment of chromosomes, resulting in a substantial potential for genetic variation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genetic Diversity Through Meiosis
The statement that gene shuffling during meiosis allows two parents to produce genetically diverse offspring is true. Sexual reproduction, specifically through the process of meiosis, enables tremendous potential for genetic variation. This diversity arises from multiple mechanisms during meiosis. First, during prophase I of meiosis I, crossing-over between nonsister chromatids of homologous chromosomes generates recombinant chromatids with new combinations of maternal and paternal genes. Another mechanism is the random assortment of chromosomes during metaphase I, which ensures that each gamete receives a unique combination of maternal and paternal chromosomes.
The random orientation of homologous chromosomes creates over 8 million possible combinations for each individual gamete without considering the additional variation from crossover events. These gametes, when united through the process of fertilization, can result in a staggering number of unique genetic combinations between any two people, far surpassing the total human population. The concept of independent assortment, therefore, plays a critical role in contributing to the genetic diversity integral for adaptation and evolution.