Final answer:
The false statement about gamete formation during meiosis is that parental gametes can only be formed if there is no crossing over. Crossing over can occur without preventing the formation of parental gametes, and it also creates recombinant gametes, adding to genetic variety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement from the list concerning gamete formation during meiosis that is false is: c. 'Parental gametes can be formed only if there is no crossing over during meiosis.'
Parental gametes indeed carry the same combinations of alleles as the parent cell; however, crossing over does not necessarily prevent the formation of parental gametes. Crossing over can occur between genes, but if it occurs outside of the linked genes that define the parental allele combinations, then parental gametes can still be formed. Additionally, crossing over is a source of genetic diversity and the reason why we can see recombinant gametes that contain new combinations of alleles not found in the parent cell.
Probability and independent assortment play significant roles during fertilization. For instance, a plant heterozygous for a trait with genotype Bb can produce gametes with alleles B or b, each with an equal chance of combining with the gametes of another Bb parent, illustrating a principle of probability similar to tossing a coin.