Question:

Mendel's law of independent assortment implies that

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Remember that Mendel's law of independent assortment only strictly applies to genes located on different chromosomes or very far apart on the same chromosome. Physical linkage on a chromosome can restrict independent assortment.
Updated On: Jun 16, 2026
  • alleles segregate independent of one another during gamete formation.
  • alleles segregate independent of their location on the chromosome during gamete formation.
  • traits are encoded by independent genes.
  • traits are always encoded by different chromosomes.
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks about the primary implication of Gregor Mendel's second law, known as the Law of Independent Assortment. This fundamental genetic principle describes how different genes and their corresponding alleles behave relative to one another during the process of gamete formation (meiosis).

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

• The Law of Independent Assortment states that the alleles of two or more different genes sort into gametes independently of one another.

• In other words, the allele a gamete receives for one gene does not influence or depend on the allele received for another gene.

• This process occurs during Metaphase I of meiosis, where homologous chromosome pairs align randomly at the metaphase plate.

• Consequently, the segregation of one pair of alleles is completely independent of the segregation of another pair.

• Option B is incorrect because genetic linkage exists; alleles that are physically close on the same chromosome do not assort independently unless recombination occurs.

• Options C and D are incorrect because they mischaracterize the definition of traits and gene-chromosome relationships.


Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, the law of independent assortment implies that alleles of different genes segregate independently of one another during gamete formation.
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