Independent assortment occurs only in cells that are heterozygous for two genes (AaBb) and not in cells that are completely homo
zygous (AABB or aabb). View Available Hint(s) Independent assortment occurs only in cells that are heterozygous for two genes (AaBb) and not in cells that are completely homozygous (AABB or aabb). True False
The law of independent assortment states that characters are inherited independently of one another. That is, for example, genes A and B are inherited independently without any interference of A on B or B on A.
Independent assortment occur in genes that are not linked together on the same chromosome. More specifically, two genes on the same chromosome will assort independently provided there is a certain minimum distance between them.
<em>Hence, independent assortment has nothing to do with whether a gene is homozygous or heterozygous.</em>
Gregor Mendel, who was referred to as the FATHER OF GENETICS, discovered the principles that governs heredity. One of those principles which he called LAW OF INDEPENDENT ASSORTMENT states that the alleles of a gene randomly segregates into gametes independently of the alleles of another gene. This means that during gamete formation (meiosis), the separation of the alleles of one gene doesn't affect the separation of the alleles of another gene.
Mendel discovered this principle when he worked with two genes that was responsible for two distinct characters. Hence, in a cell that contains two genes responsible for two different characters in the organism, independent assortment will always occur during gamete formation. Although, in an organism that is homozygous for both traits (AABB or aabb), only one type of allelic combination will be produced in the gamete. However, the alleles will still randomly align and separate independently of one another during Metaphase and Anaphase stages of meiosis.
