Question:

Mendel's discovery in pea plants may be considered incidental since the chosen traits were

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Linkage is the "exception" to Mendel's Law of Independent Assortment.
Updated On: May 14, 2026
  • mostly tightly linked
  • only completely dominant
  • highly epistatic
  • independently assorted
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation


Step 1: Concept

Mendel's Law of Independent Assortment states that alleles of different genes segregate independently during gamete formation.

Step 2: Analysis of Mendel's Traits

Mendel studied seven traits in pea plants. If these genes were located very close to each other on the same chromosome (linked), they would not have assorted independently.

Step 3: Reasoning

His results appeared "clean" because the traits he chose were either on different chromosomes or far enough apart on the same chromosome to appear to assort independently.

Step 4: Conclusion

The independent assortment of his chosen traits was crucial for his discovery of the basic laws of inheritance. Final Answer: (D)
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