Name: Classification of Organisms
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 5 min
Description: The technique of classifying organisms is known as taxonomy. Scientists have classified living organisms into different kingdoms, phyla, etc. Learn more

Question

How do Mendel's experiments show that traits are inherited independently?

Accepted Answer

Mendel conducted a dihybrid cross. He took two characters:

Round and yellow seeds (RRYY)

Wrinkled and green seeds (rryy)

In the F1 generation, Mendel got plants with Round and yellow seeds (RrYy). Then he self-crossed F1 plants. The following result was obtained by him:

Round yellow (RY)- 9

Round green (Ry)- 3

Wrinkled yellow (rY)- 3

Wrinkled green (ry)- 1

The above results indicate that yellow and green seeds appear in the ratio 9+3:3+1=3:1. Similarly, the round and wrinkled seeds are in the ratio of 9+3:3+1=12:4 or 3:1.

When these produce gametes, all the four genes have full freedom to assort independently and, therefore, there are possibilities of four combinations in both male and female gametes: YR, Yr, yR, ry.

From the results of the dihybrid cross, it is concluded that genes controlling different characters are not linked. Thus, in the F₂generation, two new characters (round, green and wrinkled, yellow) other than parental characters (round, yellow and wrinkled, green) were obtained.

How do Mendel's experiments show that traits are inherited independently?

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