Allele pairs are most likely to assort independently of one another when
A)they control unrelated traits.
B)they control related traits.
C)they are on the same chromosome.
D)they are sex-linked.
E)they are on different chromosomes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Alleles on different chromosomes are more likely to assort independently during meiosis than those on the same chromosome. This is because during meiosis, homologous chromosomes segregate independently, meaning each of the alleles on different chromosomes has an equal chance of being in a gamete. However, if the alleles are on the same chromosome, they are more likely to stay together during meiosis because of genetic linkage, which reduces the chance of independent assortment. Therefore, alleles on different chromosomes are more likely to assort independently of one another.

Allele Pairs Are Most Likely to Assort Independently of One