Final answer:
Mendel's Principle of Independent Assortment states that alleles segregate independently during the formation of gametes. This principle explains the genetic diversity observed in the offspring from his experimental pea plants. The correct answer here is D. alleles segregate independently of each other.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mendel's Principle of Independent Assortment is a fundamental principle of genetics discovered by Gregor Mendel. This principle applies to the segregation of alleles into gametes during the process of meiosis. When considering the different genetic combinations for the F2 generation in a dihybrid cross, Mendel's principle indicates that alleles for each gene sort into gametes independently of each other.
For a quick clarification, independent assortment occurs due to the random orientation of chromosome pairs during meiosis I, leading to a random distribution of maternal and paternal chromosomes into gametes. Moreover, even on the same chromosome, recombination during meiosis can break the linkage between genes that are far apart, allowing them to assort independently as well.
Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is D. alleles segregate independently of each other, which is consistent with Mendel's observation of the variety of offspring from his pea plant experiments.