CLEP Biology

Answer: E, The principle of Mendelian inheritance that states that different genes assort independently during gamete formation is called independent assortment. Independent assortment occurs during metaphase I of meiosis.

Key Takeaway: In the case of genes not linked to each other, genes will be inherited according to Mendelian inheritance. In the case of two parents of which one is homozygous dominant for two genes and the second is homozygous recessive, the F1 generation will have ratio of 3:1, meaning the offspring are all either homozygous or heterozygous for the dominant traits. In the second generation, all combinations of gene inheritance will be visible, resulting in a ratio of 9:3:3:1, in which some offspring will have homozygous recessive traits.