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NEETBiologyPrinciples of Inheritance and VariationClass 12

I keep getting “Independent assortment” questions wrong in Principles of Inheritance and Variation. What's the trap?

applying independent assortment to genes that are linked on the same chromosome.

The usual trap: applying independent assortment to genes that are linked on the same chromosome. How to avoid it: it holds only for genes on different chromosomes; linked genes travel together. Go back to the definition — alleles of different genes assort independently into gametes, giving the 9:3:3:1 dihybrid ratio.

Key point

Independent assortment

Common mistake

applying independent assortment to genes that are linked on the same chromosome.

Memory tip

it holds only for genes on different chromosomes; linked genes travel together.

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