MISA Biology Practice Exam 2025 – The Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Your Exam!

The Law of Independent Assortment articulates that the inheritance of one trait is not affected by the inheritance of another trait. This principle is derived from Gregor Mendel's experiments with dihybrid crosses, where he observed that different pairs of alleles segregate independently of one another when gametes are formed.

This independent behavior means that the allele a gamete receives for one gene does not influence the allele it receives for a different gene. For example, in the classic Mendelian pea plant experiments, the inheritance of flower color does not impact the inheritance of seed shape. This highlights the diversity of traits that can be inherited simultaneously without interference.

In contrast, the other concepts mentioned focus on different aspects of inheritance. The Law of Dominance refers to how certain alleles can mask the expression of others in a heterozygous pair. The Law of Segregation states that during gamete formation, the two alleles for a trait separate so that each gamete receives only one allele. The Law of Unity is not a recognized principle in Mendelian genetics. By understanding the Law of Independent Assortment, one gains insight into the complexity and variability of genetic inheritance.