Here's why:
* Independent Assortment: This law states that alleles of different genes separate independently of one another during gamete formation. This means that the inheritance of one trait doesn't influence the inheritance of another.
* Chromosome Segregation: During meiosis, homologous chromosomes (pairs of chromosomes, one from each parent) separate randomly into different gametes. If genes are on different chromosomes, they will assort independently because the chromosomes themselves are segregating independently.
* Linkage: If genes are located close together on the same chromosome, they tend to be inherited together because they are physically linked. This is called linkage, and it violates the law of independent assortment.
In summary: The law of independent assortment holds true for genes on separate chromosomes or genes far apart on the same chromosome because their alleles are segregated independently during meiosis.
