Mendel's law of segregation is one of the fundamental principles of genetics, first articulated by Gregor Mendel through his experiments with pea plants in the mid-19th century. This law states that:
- Alleles: Each organism carries two alleles for each trait—one inherited from each parent.
- Separation During Gamete Formation: During the formation of gametes (sperm and egg cells), the two alleles for a trait segregate (separate) from each other. This means that each gamete carries only one allele for each trait.
- Random Inheritance: When fertilization occurs, the offspring receive one allele from each parent, restoring the pair of alleles.
This law explains how traits are inherited independently and that each trait is governed by the random combination of alleles from both parents. Mendel's findings laid the groundwork for the field of genetics and our understanding of heredity.
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