Moderate

In which situation genes are not assorted independently during meiosis in a chromosome?

Correct answer: A. When genes are linked and their loci are close to each other

  • A. When genes are linked and their loci are close to each other
  • B. When some genes have mutated on the chromosome
  • C. When there are too many genes on a chromosome
  • D. When genes are not linked and their loci are far apart

Explanation

The correct answer is Option A. Genes that are close together on the same chromosome are linked and tend to be inherited together because they are less likely to be separated by crossing over during meiosis. This violates the law of independent assortment, which states that alleles of different genes assort independently of one another. Option B is incorrect because mutations do not typically affect the independent assortment of genes. Option C is incorrect because the sheer number of genes on a chromosome does not determine linkage; it is the proximity of specific genes that matters. Option D is incorrect because when genes are not linked and far apart, they are more likely to assort independently, which is the opposite of the situation described.

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About Inheritance

Mendel's laws explain segregation, independent assortment and the prediction of genetic ratios using alleles, genotypes and phenotypes. The chapter also covers linked genes, recombination and crossing over during meiosis, then applies pedigree reasoning to X-linked recessive traits, which show different inheritance patterns in males and females.

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