Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

The Law of Independent Assortment describes:

1. The behavior of genes located on the same chromosome

2. The separation of alleles for a single trait

3. The relationship between genes that act independently during inheritance

4. The dominance of one trait over another

The correct answer is: The relationship between genes that act independently during inheritance

The Law of Independent Assortment states that genes located on different chromosomes are inherited independently of one another during gamete formation. This principle is foundational in understanding how different traits are passed on from parents to offspring, as it highlights that the inheritance of one trait does not influence the inheritance of another trait when the genes for those traits are on different chromosomes. This law is particularly relevant in dihybrid cross experiments, where the inheritance of two traits is analyzed simultaneously. By observing the offspring, scientists can determine that alleles for different traits segregate independently, leading to a variety of genetic combinations. The other options touch upon various aspects of genetics but do not accurately encapsulate the essence of the Law of Independent Assortment. For instance, the behavior of genes located on the same chromosome relates to linkage rather than independent assortment, and the concept of dominance pertains to how one allele may overshadow another in a heterozygous condition, which does not address the independent transmission of traits. The separation of alleles for a single trait reflects the Law of Segregation, which pertains to one gene rather than the relationship of multiple genes.