What does Mendel's Law of Segregation state regarding alleles during gametogenesis?

• A. They remain together in gametes
• B. They are expressed in the phenotype
• C. They end up in different gametes
• D. They are doubled

Answer: (C)

Mendel's Law of Segregation describes how alleles for a trait separate during the formation of gametes. This means that each gamete will receive only one allele from each parent for a given trait. As a result, when an organism produces gametes through meiosis, the paired alleles segregate into different gametes such that one gamete may receive one allele while another gamete will receive the other allele. This fundamental concept underlies genetic inheritance, explaining how traits can be passed from one generation to the next with variations.

The other options do not align with the principle described by the Law of Segregation. For instance, alleles do not remain together in gametes or get doubled; rather, they separate. Additionally, while alleles are indeed linked to traits expressed in an organism's phenotype, the law specifically pertains to the distribution of alleles during gamete formation, not their expression. Therefore, the correct understanding of Mendel's Law of Segregation is that alleles end up in different gametes, which lays the foundation for understanding genetic variation in offspring.