Which statement accurately describes the law of independent assortment?

The statement that alleles for different traits segregate independently is an accurate description of the law of independent assortment. This principle, first articulated by Gregor Mendel, indicates that the inheritance of one trait does not influence the inheritance of another trait when genes are located on different chromosomes or are far apart on the same chromosome. This means that the separation of alleles for one trait will occur independently of the separation of alleles for another trait during gamete formation.

This law is significant in genetics as it allows for genetic variation, resulting in a range of possible combinations of traits in offspring. When gametes are formed during meiosis, each pair of alleles segregates independently, leading to a diverse array of genetic combinations in the offspring. This phenomenon is evident in dihybrid crosses, where two traits are examined simultaneously and the offspring display a variety of combinations, illustrating how these alleles assort independently.

The other options do not accurately describe the law of independent assortment. Random mutations pertain to changes in the DNA sequence rather than the segregation of alleles during gamete formation. The inheritance of genes on the same chromosome is described by the law of linkage, which states that genes that are closer together on the same chromosome tend to be inherited together. The