Mendel's law of independent assortment

Definition

Mendel's law of independent assortment is a principle in genetics that states that the alleles for different traits segregate independently of each other during the formation of gametes. This means that the inheritance of one trait does not affect the inheritance of another trait.

Related terms

Dominant allele: A dominant allele is an allele that will be expressed as a trait when present in either one or both copies. For example, if a person has one dominant allele for brown eyes and one recessive allele for blue eyes, their eye color will be brown.

Recessive allele: A recessive allele is an allele that will only be expressed as a trait when present in two copies. If there is at least one dominant allele present, it will mask the expression of the recessive trait.

Punnett square: A Punnett square is a diagram used to predict possible offspring genotypes resulting from a cross between individuals with known genotypes. It helps determine which alleles can be passed on by each parent and their probabilities in offspring.