Final answer:
An individual with the genotype AaBb can produce four types of gametes: AB, Ab, aB, and ab. The correct answer is (A).
Step-by-step explanation:
The types of gametes that can be produced by an individual with the genotype AaBb are AB, Ab, aB, and ab. During the process of meiosis, the paired alleles separate and go to different gametes. This ensures genetic diversity through a concept called independent assortment, where genes for different traits are inherited separately from each other.
These gametes represent possible combinations of the parent's alleles for two genes (with A and B being dominant alleles and a and b being recessive alleles), and each combination has a chance to unite with a gamete from another individual during fertilization. The types of gametes ultimately affect the genotype and phenotype of the offspring, following Mendelian inheritance principles.
If the genes are unlinked, as is typically expected with genes located on different chromosomes or far apart on the same chromosome, the resulting gametes would indeed be AB, Ab, aB, and ab. The combination of gametes during fertilization leads to diverse offspring genotypes and contributes to the genetic variation seen within a population.