Question

Mendel’s law of independent assortment says that the inheritance of one trait is not influenced by inheritance of another trait. Using what you know about meiosis, explain how you can observe the law of independent assortment in action.

Answer 1

Answer:

In meiosis I, the arrangement of any homologous chromosome along the center plane ( forgot the name for this) is independent of the arrangement of the other homologous chromosomes. There is thus equal probability for the chromosome to be in either of the two daughter cells after meiosis I. This is observed in meiosis 2 metaphase as well where the arrangement of each Sister chromatid about the ‘center plane’ is independent of each other. This independence observed during metaphase of meiosis I and meiosis II allows for chromatids to be in either gamete formed in equal probability, not affecting by other chromatids thus inheritance of one trait is not affected by the inheritance of another trait.