Which of the following best describes the principle of independent assortment in genetics?

• A. Alleles of different genes are distributed independently of one another during gamete formation.
• B. All alleles on the same chromosome are always inherited together.
• C. Genes located close together on a chromosome always assort independently.
• D. Only dominant alleles are assorted independently during meiosis.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the principle of independent assortment is one of Mendel's key laws of inheritance, which explains how different genes independently separate from one another when reproductive cells develop.
2. Recall that during meiosis, homologous chromosomes are separated into different gametes, and the way one pair of alleles segregates does not affect the segregation of another pair, provided the genes are on different chromosomes or far apart on the same chromosome.
3. Recognize that alleles located on the same chromosome can be inherited together unless crossing over occurs, which can separate linked genes, but genes close together tend to be inherited together, so they do not assort independently.
4. Note that the principle applies to all alleles regardless of dominance; dominance affects phenotype expression but not the independent segregation of alleles during gamete formation.
5. Conclude that the best description of independent assortment is that alleles of different genes are distributed independently of one another during gamete formation.