Law of Independent Assortment explains which of the following?

• A. The distribution of one gene's alleles into gametes is influenced by other genes
• B. Genes for two traits are always inherited together
• C. Genes for different traits are linked and do not assort independently
• D. The law states that genes for different traits are distributed randomly and independently in the formation of gametes

Answer: (D)

During gamete formation, alleles for different traits can separate independently from one another, so the allele you pass for one trait doesn't affect the allele you pass for another. This idea is the law of independent assortment: genes for different traits are distributed randomly and independently in the formation of gametes.

This means that, for a dihybrid cross (two traits), you can get all combinations of alleles in offspring (such as AB, Ab, aB, and ab) with no one combination being forced by another. It’s especially true for genes on different chromosomes or those far apart on the same chromosome.

The other statements imply that one gene's inheritance is dependent on another or that different traits are always inherited together, which contradicts independent assortment.