Question

Mendel's laws of segregation and independent assortment are based on the movement of chromosomes during meiosis, even though Mendel did not know about chromosomes during his lifetime. Can you match each of the following events with the law it illustrates?

Sort each event to the appropriate bin. If an event doesn't illustrate either law, drag it to the neither bin.
1. During meiosis, ateles of genes on one homologous pair of chromosomes sort into gametes without regard for how alleles on other homologous pairs sort into gametes
2. A diploid organism with the genotype Gg will produce gametes that are 1/3 and 1/2.
3. In preparation for meiosis, the cell duplicates each of its chromosomes
4. During metaphase I, homologous pairs of chromosomes line up at the metaphase plate in varying arrangements by chance.
5. During meiosis, a diploid organism's homologous chromosomes separate into haploid gametes
6. During meiosis, the two alleles of one gene separate into different gametes
option:
a. Law of segregation
b. Law of independent assortment
c. Neither

Answer 1

Mendel's law of independent assortment states that genes sort independently of each other into gametes during meiosis. Recombination during meiosis is a random event that allows for the exchange of genetic material on homologous chromosomes, resulting in the separation of alleles and independent assortment of genes.

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.