17.1: The law of independent assortment and the inheritance of traits at different gene loci

Dihybrid Crosses

Breeding experiments between organisms that vary by two traits (e.g., seed shape and color).

Dihybrids

Heterozygous for two traits - display the dominant phenotype.

Independent Assortment in Dihybrid Crosses

Traits separate independently, demonstrating the principle of independent assortment; results in a 9:3:3:1 ratio in F2 generation.

Law of Independent Assortment

The alleles for different genes are segregated into gametes independently of one another.

Phenotypic Ratio in Dihybrids

9:3:3:1 phenotypic ratio indicates that each dihybrid parent is equally likely to pass on all possible combinations of dominant and recessive alleles.