True or False?:
The random segregation of chromosomes during meiosis explains Mendel's observation that genes for different traits are inherited independently of each other.
If chromosomes are collections of genes, wouldn't suggest that — even with the "random segregation of chromosomes" — that some genes would vary together?
True. The random segregation of chromosomes during meiosis does explain Mendel's observation of independent inheritance of different traits.
Mendel's laws of inheritance were based on his experimental work with pea plants. One of his key observations was the independent assortment of traits, which means that the inheritance of one trait is not influenced by the inheritance of another trait. In other words, the inheritance of different traits is not linked together.
The random segregation of chromosomes during meiosis is responsible for this independent assortment. During meiosis, homologous chromosomes pair up and then separate, resulting in the distribution of genetic material into gametes (sex cells) in a random manner. This means that the different combinations of alleles for different traits can occur in the gametes independently of each other.
To explain it in a simplified way, let's consider an example: Suppose we have genes for two different traits, such as seed color (yellow or green) and seed shape (round or wrinkled). Each trait is determined by a pair of alleles, with one allele inherited from each parent.
During meiosis, the chromosomes carrying the genes for seed color and seed shape will segregate independently. This means that the chromosome carrying the yellow allele for seed color can randomly end up in a gamete carrying either the round or wrinkled allele for seed shape. Similarly, the chromosome carrying the green allele for seed color can randomly end up in a gamete carrying either the round or wrinkled allele for seed shape.
As a result, we can have different combinations of alleles in the gametes, such as yellow-round, yellow-wrinkled, green-round, and green-wrinkled. These combinations are not influenced by each other, leading to the independent inheritance of different traits, as observed by Mendel.
In conclusion, the random segregation of chromosomes during meiosis explains Mendel's observation that genes for different traits are inherited independently of each other.