Question

Two genes will probably assort independently if:

Options

• they are both located on the X chromosome

• they are on homologous chromosomes

• they are very far apart on the same chromosome

• they are very close together on the same chromosome

Answer 1

they are very far apart on the same chromosome

Explanation:

Two genes will assort independently if they are located on different homologous chromosome pairs. This is because during meiosis, homologous chromosomes segregate independently, leading to independent assortment of genes on different chromosomes. Even if genes are on the same chromosome but very far apart, the chance of crossover increases their independent assortment somewhat, but the classical independent assortment strictly applies to genes on different chromosomes (homologous pairs). Genes very close together on the same chromosome tend to be inherited together due to linkage, and genes on the X chromosome do not assort independently if they are linked. Thus, genes on different homologous chromosomes assort independently according to Mendel’s law of independent assortment and the chromosomal theory of inheritance.