The principle that explains how genes on different chromosomes assort independently into gametes is:

The principle that explains how genes on different chromosomes assort independently into gametes is:

• A. Law of Segregation
• B. Law of Independent Assortment
• C. Linkage
• D. Random genetic drift

Answer: (B)

Independent assortment of genes on different chromosomes is being tested here. During meiosis, the way each homologous chromosome pairs lines up and separates is random, so the allele a gamete receives for one gene is independent of the allele it receives for a gene on another chromosome. This produces many possible combinations of alleles in gametes, which is Mendel’s second law in action. This differs from the law of segregation, which describes how alleles of the same gene separate into gametes. Linkage refers to genes that are close together on the same chromosome and tend to be inherited together, reducing independent assortment. Random genetic drift is about changes in allele frequencies in a population over time, not about how alleles assort into gametes within an individual.

Independent assortment of genes on different chromosomes is being tested here. During meiosis, the way each homologous chromosome pairs lines up and separates is random, so the allele a gamete receives for one gene is independent of the allele it receives for a gene on another chromosome. This produces many possible combinations of alleles in gametes, which is Mendel’s second law in action.

This differs from the law of segregation, which describes how alleles of the same gene separate into gametes. Linkage refers to genes that are close together on the same chromosome and tend to be inherited together, reducing independent assortment. Random genetic drift is about changes in allele frequencies in a population over time, not about how alleles assort into gametes within an individual.