Which description best matches the law of segregation?

The law of segregation specifically dictates that alleles for a given trait separate from each other during the process of gamete formation, a crucial concept in Mendelian genetics. This means that when an organism produces gametes (such as sperm or eggs), the two alleles for each gene present in that organism will split so that each gamete carries only one allele. This ensures that offspring will receive one allele from each parent, leading to genetic variation.

This principle reflects the physical behavior of chromosomes during meiosis, where homologous chromosomes (and therefore the alleles they carry) are separated into different gametes. This foundational aspect of inheritance lays the groundwork for understanding more complex patterns of inheritance and genetic diversity in populations.