Mendel's laws of inheritance, specifically during meiosis, include the following concepts:
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Law of Segregation: This law states that during the formation of gametes (sperm and egg cells), the two alleles for a gene segregate from each other. As a result, each gamete receives only one allele from each parent. This ensures that offspring inherit one allele from each parent for every gene.
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Law of Independent Assortment: This law states that the alleles for different genes assort independently of one another during gamete formation. This means that the inheritance of one trait (e.g., flower color) will not affect the inheritance of another trait (e.g., seed shape). The independent assortment of alleles contributes to increased genetic diversity among offspring because it allows for various combinations of alleles to be formed in the gametes.
Together, these laws explain how genetic variation is observed in offspring from different combinations of alleles from their parents.