The individual with genotype AaBbCCDdEE can make many kinds of gametes. Which of the following correctly describes why this situation is possible?
A) recurrent mutations form new alleles
B) crossing over during prophase I leads to genetic variety
C) different possible assortment of chromosomes into gametes occurs
D) there is a tendency for dominant alleles to segregate together

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the individual has different possible assortments of chromosomes into gametes means that chromosomes can line up differently during metaphase I of meiosis, resulting in different combinations of alleles in the gametes. This is known as independent assortment and is one of the key reasons why an individual with a heterozygous genotype can produce many different types of gametes.

The Individual with Genotype AaBbCCDdEE Can Make Many Kinds of Gametes