Question

multiple choice 20 points mendel’s law of independent assortment states that: alleles for different traits independently and randomly separate from each other during the first step of gamete production. traits always blend together in offspring in a completely random configuration. genes that are located on the same chromosome will always be inherited together and influence the dominance of each other. one allele is always dominant and one is always recessive and it depends on which one is inherited from the father as to which one will be inherited from the mother.

Explanation:

1. Recall Mendel's Law of Independent Assortment: It states that during the formation of gametes (meiosis), the alleles of different genes assort independently of one another. This means alleles for different traits separate independently and randomly during gamete production (the first step of gamete production is meiosis I, where segregation and independent assortment occur).
2. Analyze the other options:

• The option about traits blending is incorrect as Mendel's work showed traits are inherited as discrete units, not blended.
• Genes on the same chromosome are linked and do not assort independently (this is about linkage, not independent assortment), so that option is wrong.
• The idea that dominance depends on parental inheritance and one is always dominant/recessive is not part of independent assortment (and also not entirely accurate as there are cases like codominance, incomplete dominance) and misrepresents the law.

Answer:

A. Alleles for different traits independently and randomly separate from each other during the first step of gamete production.