What does Mendel's law of segregation state regarding alleles?

Prepare for the Mississippi State Biology 1 Exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question offers hints and explanations to help you get ready for your exam!

Mendel's law of segregation fundamentally states that during the formation of gametes, the two alleles for a gene segregate from each other so that each gamete carries only one allele for each gene. This principle helps explain how traits are inherited and ensures that offspring receive one allele from each parent, maintaining genetic diversity.

When gametes are formed through meiosis, the pairs of alleles separate as the homologous chromosomes are pulled apart, resulting in gametes that contain a single allele for each trait. This concept is essential for understanding how traits may be passed on from parents to offspring, as it sets the stage for predicting genotypic and phenotypic ratios in the offspring based on their parents' alleles.

The other options touch upon related concepts, but they do not accurately reflect the essence of the law of segregation. Dominance and recessiveness pertain to the relationship between alleles rather than the segregation process itself. The assertion that alleles only exist in pairs relates to their organization, but does not adequately describe their behavior during gamete formation. Lastly, the statement about all alleles being expressed equally misrepresents the concept of dominance, where some alleles can mask the expression of others. Thus, the correct understanding of Mend

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