What does independent assortment refer to in genetics?

Independent assortment is a fundamental principle of genetics that describes how genes segregate independently of one another during the formation of gametes, such as sperm and eggs. This means that the alleles for different genes are distributed to gametes without influence from each other, allowing for a variety of genetic combinations in the offspring.

During meiosis, the process of gamete formation, chromosomes are separated and distributed into different gametes in a way that each gamete receives a random mix of maternal and paternal chromosomes. This random arrangement contributes to genetic diversity in the next generation because each gamete carries a unique combination of alleles.

The concept is closely tied to Gregor Mendel's law of independent assortment and emphasizes that traits controlled by different genes assort independently when gametes are formed. This principle underlies the genetic variation observed in sexually reproducing organisms.