Question

How do Mendel's exp. show that the traits are inherited independently??

Answer 1

Dear Student, The law of independent assortment states that, When two pairs of traits are combined in a hybrid, one pair of character segregates independent of the other pair of character. In a dihybrid cross between two plants having round yellow (RRYY) and wrinkled green seeds (rryy), four types of gametes (RY, Ry, rY, ry) are produced. Each of these segregate independent of each other, each having a frequency of 25% of the total gametes produced. In other words, Mendel crosses varieties of pea plants that differed in more than one characters from each other by two pairs of genes. This is called dihybrid cross. By performing this cross he stated the law of independent assortment which explains that alleles of different genes are assorted independently of each other at the time of gamete formation. In monohybrid cross produces two phenotypes (3:1) whereas dihybrid cross produces four phenotypes in the ratio of 9:3:3:1. This 9:3:3:1 ratio also shows that the two different genes independently express the phenotypic ratio of 3:1 each. This proves that all the traits in an organism are inherited independently. Regards