Final answer:
According to Mendel's law of independent assortment, genes sort independently of each other into gametes during meiosis. However, genes located in close proximity on the same chromosome tend to be inherited together. Recombination allows for exchange of genetic material and the independent assortment of genes on the same chromosome.Hence, the correct answer is option C.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Mendel's law of independent assortment, genes sort independently of each other into gametes during meiosis. This occurs because chromosomes, on which the genes reside, assort independently during meiosis and crossovers cause most genes on the same chromosomes to also behave independently. When genes are located in close proximity on the same chromosome, their alleles tend to be inherited together. This results in offspring ratios that violate Mendel's law of independent assortment.
However, recombination serves to exchange genetic material on homologous chromosomes such that maternal and paternal alleles may be recombined on the same chromosome. This is why alleles on a given chromosome are not always inherited together. Recombination is a random event occurring anywhere on a chromosome. Therefore, genes that are far apart on the same chromosome are likely to still assort independently because of recombination events that occurred in the intervening chromosomal space.