The law that states that genes separate independently of one another in meiosis is called?

• A. Law of Independent Assortment
• B. Law of Segregation
• C. Law of Dominance
• D. Law of Crossing Over

Answer: (A)

During meiosis, the way different genes sort into gametes is independent for genes on different chromosomes (or far apart on the same chromosome). This random orientation of homologous chromosome pairs at metaphase I means alleles for one gene assort into gametes without regard to alleles for another gene, producing many combinations in offspring. This principle is the Law of Independent Assortment, which explains why inheritance of one trait generally does not predict inheritance of another when the genes are on different chromosomes. The other laws describe different ideas: segregation of alleles for a single gene into gametes, dominance of one allele over another in heterozygotes, and the exchange of chromosome segments during crossing over that can create new allele combinations but isn’t the statement about independent sorting of genes.