Law of Segregation
Mendel’s law that states that the pairs of homologous chromosomes separate in meiosis so that only one chromosome from each pair is present in each gamete
The Law of Segregation was first described by Gregor Mendel, a Catholic monk who conducted experiments on pea plants in the mid-19th century. The Law of Segregation states that during gamete formation, the two alleles (variants of a gene) that control a particular trait will segregate or separate from each other. This means that each gamete (sex cell) can only receive one allele for a particular trait.
To provide an example, let’s consider a trait with two distinct alleles: one for green pea pods (G) and one for yellow pea pods (g). If a pea plant is heterozygous for this trait, meaning it has one green allele and one yellow allele (Gg), then during gamete formation the two alleles will segregate so that each gamete only receives one allele. Therefore, half the gametes will have the green allele (G) and the other half will have the yellow allele (g).
When these gametes from the heterozygous pea plant combine during fertilization, there is a 50/50 chance that the resulting offspring will inherit either the green or yellow allele. This is because each parent only contributes one allele to their offspring.
Overall, the Law of Segregation explains how genetic diversity is achieved through sexual reproduction and how different combinations of alleles can lead to a variety of traits in the offspring.
More Answers:
Exploring Evolution: The Process of Genetic Change and Adaptation in Populations.Understanding Gene Variations: Importance and Types Explained
Understanding Heterozygous Genetics: Dominant and Recessive Alleles Explained