Mendel’s first law of inheritance is called the Law of Segregation.
It explains how traits are passed from parents to offspring through the separation of alleles during the formation of gametes (reproductive cells like pollen and ovules).
Here’s a simple explanation:
1. Each trait is controlled by a pair of alleles:
Every plant has two alleles for each trait — one inherited from the mother and one from the father.
2. Separation of alleles:
When plants produce gametes (through meiosis), these two alleles separate so that each gamete carries only one allele for each trait.
3. Random combination:
During fertilization, the alleles from the male and female gametes come together at random, restoring the pair in the offspring.
Example:
If a plant has alleles T (tall) and t (short):
- It produces two types of gametes: one with T and one with t.
- When gametes join, the offspring may be TT, Tt, or tt, leading to tall or short plants depending on the combination.
In short:
Mendel’s Law of Segregation states that alleles for a trait separate during gamete formation, and each gamete receives only one allele. This explains why offspring can show different combinations of traits from their parents.