Moderate

Mendel's law of independent assortment when interpreted in a modern context indicates

Correct answer: C. Alleles are present on independent chromosomes and they are sorted independently during meiosis.

  • A. Alleles are present on the same chromosome, but they assort independently due to recombination.
  • B. Alleles are present on independent chromosomes and these separate and assort independently.
  • C. Alleles are present on independent chromosomes and they are sorted independently during meiosis.
  • D. Alleles are present on the same chromosome and their combination is dependent.

Explanation

Mendel's independent assortment is the segregation of factors for a trait independent of other factors during gamete formation followed by their random rearrangement in progeny thereby, producing both parental and new combinations. The chromosomal theory of inheritance states that genes, the Mendelian factors, are present on chromosomes, and homologous chromosomes separate during anaphase I of meiosis resulting in the segregation of alleles of a gene controlling the contrasting traits. Further, the independent assortment of non-homologous chromosomes during meiosis results in an independent assortment of two separate genes each of which carries an allelic pair. Thus, the factor for two traits should be present on two different non-homologous chromosomes to assort independently and to produce parental and non-parental combinations. Thus, the correct answer is option C.

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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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