Question

Which statement describes Mendel’s hypotheses regarding gametes?

A. A gamete carries two genes for a trait.
B. A gamete carries one allele for a gene.
C. A gamete can carry multiple alleles for a trait.
D. Some gametes are dominant and some are recessive.

Answer 1

Answer: The correct answer is- B. A gamete carries one allele for a gene.

Gamete ( also called sex cell or reproductive cell) is a haploid cell ( having half number of chromosome as compared to the parent cell) that is produced through a cell division, termed as meiosis in sexually reproducing organisms.

According to Mendel's second law of inheritance that is law of segregation,

For every trait/ characteristic of an individual, there are two variant forms of a gene (called alleles) that are separated from one another so that every gamete possesses one allele. This law is also known as law of purity of gametes.

Thus, option B) is the right answer.

Answer 2

The principle of segregation given by Gregor Mendel based on his experiments with the pea plants states that alleles of a gene for any trait are segregated during the formation of the gametes. Therefore, a gamete contains only one allele of a gene. When the male and female gamete combines during fertilization, the two alleles (one from each gamete) combine to form the gene.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option B - A gamete carries one allele for a gene'.