Final answer:
The statement about genes segregating and assorting during meiosis refers to Mendel's laws of segregation and independent assortment. Alleles of the same gene separate so each gamete receives only one allele, while alleles of different genes are distributed independently, allowing for various genetic combinations in the offspring.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'alleles of the same gene segregate; alleles of different genes assort' relates to the fundamental principles of genetics discovered by Gregor Mendel, known as Mendel's laws of inheritance. These include the law of segregation and the law of independent assortment, both of which occur during the process of meiosis. Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in the gametes to half, ensuring genetic diversity in offspring.
During meiosis, the law of segregation states that each gamete receives only one allele from the two alleles present in a diploid organism, resulting in the separation of alleles for a single gene. In contrast, the law of independent assortment states that alleles of different genes sort into gametes independently of each other, allowing for various combinations of genes to occur. These mechanisms together increase genetic variation among sexually reproducing organisms.