Meiosis and Mendel’s Laws

What is Mendel’s law of segregation

The two alleles of a gene separate during gamete formation, so each gamete receives one allele.

How does meiosis explain the law of segregation

Homologous chromosomes carrying the alleles separate during anaphase I.

What gametes can an (Aa) individual produce

(A) and (a), typically in equal proportions.

What is Mendel’s law of independent assortment

Alleles of different genes assort independently when the genes are unlinked or sufficiently far apart on the same chromosome.

How does meiosis explain independent assortment

Homologous chromosome pairs orient independently at metaphase I.

What gametes can an (AaBb) individual produce if the genes assort independently

(AB), (Ab), (aB), and (ab), each expected at 25%.

Why does meiosis create genetic variation

Through crossing over and independent assortment of homologous chromosomes.

How does fertilization contribute to genetic variation

It combines genetic material from two haploid gametes.