Question

A male and female bison that are both heterozygous for normal skin pigmentation (Aa) produce an albino
offspring (aa). Which of Mendel’s principles explain(s) why the offspring is albino?
a. dominance only
c. dominance and segregation
b. independent assortment only
d. segregation only

Answer 1

Please explain why as well

Answer 2

It is not going to be dominance - the offspring in question have two recessive alleles (aa), neither of which is dominant to the other. So options A and C are both out the window.

Of the remaining two possibilities, segretation basically just states that each offspring has two alleles for each gene, one from each parent. Which doesn't go a long way telling you why this particular offspring is albino.

By contrast, independent assortment is much more relevant. It says that either chromosome from each parent has an equal chance of ending up in any particular baby. So it implies that each parent will pass on its recessive albino allele (a) to some of its offspring. And some of the offspring will independently get an a allele from each parent and be aa for albino.

Make sense?

Answer 3

Can you remind me of what the difference and what exactly is Independent Assortment and Segregation? I mix them up a lot. I feel that segregation is when the alleles separate during the formation of gametes usually in F1 generation. And Independent assortment is when the alleles separate without influencing inheritance of traits among others.

Answer 4

Segregation is very basic and limited in its extent. It basically says that each individual gets two copies (alleles for fancy wordage) of each gene. Which is sort of a "duh" conclusion but is actually the premise on which the rest of Mendel's postulates are based, and if you are looking at it from the perspective of people who are just discovering genetics you can sort of see why it is necessary. If you are trying to distinguish between the two, you can look on segregation as what an individual GETS in terms of genetic material.

Independent assortment says that an individual has an equal chance of passing on either of its two alleles to its offspring. You can look on independent assortment more as what an individual GIVES in terms of genetic material.

Answer 5

Honestly, I tend to remember the rules themselves much better than I remember the names of those rules - which suggests just how important (not) those names actually are.

Answer 6

ok. Not completely sure but I feel the wheels turning in my head.

Answer 7

Read it a few times and sleep on it. Always does the trick.

Answer 8

lol ok:)

Answer 9

Do I get a medal for that?

Answer 10

Or a warning for asking for medals?

Answer 11

:)