Mendel’s law of independent assortment states that alleles of genes on nonhomologous chromosomes assort independently during gamete formation. Which phase of meiosis determines the combinations of alleles of different genes that end up in the daughter cells?

Question

prophase I
metaphase I
anaphase I
metaphase II

Answer 1

The phase of meiosis that determines the combinations of alleles of different genes that end up in the daughter cells is metaphase I.

During metaphase I, homologous chromosomes are lined up at the metaphase plate, and the orientation of each pair is random. This independent orientation leads to the independent assortment of alleles, resulting in various combinations of alleles in the gametes.