Question

A heterozygous individual plant has a genotype AB/ab. List the type of gametes that will be produced with and without crossing over between the two genes. Explain your answer.

Answer 1

A heterozygous plant with genotype AB/ab produces different gametes depending on crossing over. Without crossing over, only parental types Ab and aB gametes are formed since the alleles remain together as in the parent. With crossing over, recombinant gametes AB and ab also form due to exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis. Thus, gametes produced with crossing over are Ab, AB, aB, and ab as the genes segregate and recombine independently.