Corn can be used as an example of Mendel's law of independent assortment because it exhibits traits that follow this law. In corn plants, there are genes that determine traits such as kernel color (yellow or white) and kernel shape (round or wrinkled). These traits are controlled by different genes located on different chromosomes.
When Mendel crossed a yellow, round kernel plant with a white, wrinkled kernel plant, he found that the offspring displayed different combinations of traits. This is because during meiosis, the process of cell division that produces gametes (sex cells), homologous chromosomes randomly assort and exchange genetic material, leading to different combinations of alleles being passed on to the offspring.
In the case of corn, this means that the gene for kernel color is independent of the gene for kernel shape, and they are inherited independently of each other. This demonstrates Mendel's law of independent assortment, which states that genes located on different chromosomes are inherited independently of each other and assort independently during gamete formation.
Explain how corn can be used as an example of Mendel's law of independent assortment.
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