Law of independent assortment
Genetic principle of inheritance
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The law of independent assortment is a fundamental principle of genetics first described by Gregor Mendel in the 19th century. It states that the alleles of two (or more) different genes get sorted into gametes independently of one another. In other words, the allele a gamete receives for one gene does not influence the allele received for another gene.
History[edit | edit source]
The law of independent assortment was formulated by Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, through his work on pea plants (Pisum sativum). Mendel conducted experiments crossing plants with different traits and observed how these traits were inherited in subsequent generations. His work, published in 1865, laid the foundation for the field of genetics.
Mechanism[edit | edit source]
The law of independent assortment occurs during meiosis, the process by which gametes are formed. During meiosis, homologous chromosomes are separated into different gametes. Because the orientation of each pair of homologous chromosomes is random, the distribution of alleles into gametes is also random. This results in genetic variation among offspring.
Exceptions[edit | edit source]
While the law of independent assortment holds true for genes located on different chromosomes, it does not apply to genes that are located close to each other on the same chromosome. Such genes are said to be linked and tend to be inherited together. The phenomenon of crossing over during meiosis can sometimes break this linkage, allowing for independent assortment of linked genes.
Significance[edit | edit source]
The law of independent assortment is crucial for understanding genetic variation and inheritance patterns. It explains how offspring can have combinations of traits that are not present in either parent, contributing to the diversity of traits in a population.
Also see[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- Mendel, G. (1865). "Experiments on Plant Hybridization". Verhandlungen des naturforschenden Vereins Brünn.
- Griffiths, A. J. F., et al. (2000). "An Introduction to Genetic Analysis". W. H. Freeman.
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