Final answer:
Meiosis is the type of cellular division that accounts for the greatest amount of genetic variation. It involves two nuclear divisions and leads to the production of genetically different daughter nuclei with one chromosome set.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of cellular division that accounts for the greatest amount of genetic variation is meiosis. In meiosis, there are two nuclear divisions that produce four genetically different daughter nuclei that have one chromosome set instead of the two sets of chromosomes in the parent cell. The main differences between meiosis and mitosis occur during the first division of meiosis, where homologous chromosomes pair, exchange genetic material, and separate into different nuclei. This process leads to a reduction in the ploidy level and creates genetic variation among the haploid gametes.