Which term describes the separation of alleles during gamete formation?

Which term describes the separation of alleles during gamete formation?

• A. Linkage
• B. Random mating
• C. Gene expression
• D. Segregation of alleles during gamete formation

Answer: (D)

This is about how alleles separate into gametes during meiosis. During meiosis, the two alleles for a gene segregate into different gametes, so each gamete carries only one allele from the pair. This is Mendel’s law of segregation, which explains why offspring inherit one allele from each parent and why a heterozygote like Aa can produce gametes carrying either A or a with roughly equal probability. For example, a person with Aa will generate gametes that contain A or a. Terms like linkage describe genes that are close together on a chromosome and tend to be inherited together, not the act of separating alleles into gametes. Random mating refers to the chance-based pairing of gametes during fertilization, and gene expression is about converting genetic information into a functional product, such as a protein, after the alleles are present.

This is about how alleles separate into gametes during meiosis. During meiosis, the two alleles for a gene segregate into different gametes, so each gamete carries only one allele from the pair. This is Mendel’s law of segregation, which explains why offspring inherit one allele from each parent and why a heterozygote like Aa can produce gametes carrying either A or a with roughly equal probability. For example, a person with Aa will generate gametes that contain A or a.

Terms like linkage describe genes that are close together on a chromosome and tend to be inherited together, not the act of separating alleles into gametes. Random mating refers to the chance-based pairing of gametes during fertilization, and gene expression is about converting genetic information into a functional product, such as a protein, after the alleles are present.