Question

Explain how getting alleles from two parents leads to genetic differences in their children. Write your answer in 1-2 sentences.

(2 points)

Answer 1

Each parent contributes one allele for each gene via their gametes, so a child’s genotype is a mix of maternal and paternal alleles. Meiosis (independent assortment and crossing-over) and random fertilization produce different allele combinations in each child, causing genetic differences among siblings.