If Mendel has chosen to study traits determined by linked genes he would not have discovered

Options

A. Law of segregation
B. Law of dominance
C. Law of independent assortment
D. Law of unit character

Answer

To answer the question, "If Mendel had chosen to study traits determined by linked genes, he would not have discovered," we need to analyze the implications of gene linkage on Mendel's laws of inheritance. Here’s a step-by-step solution:

### Step 1: Understand Mendel's Laws of Inheritance
Mendel proposed three key laws of inheritance based on his experiments with pea plants:
1. **Law of Dominance**: In a heterozygote, one allele may conceal the presence of another allele.
2. **Law of Segregation**: Alleles segregate independently during gamete formation.
3. **Law of Independent Assortment**: Genes for different traits assort independently of one another during gamete formation.

### Step 2: Define Linked Genes
Linked genes are genes that are located close to each other on the same chromosome. Because of their proximity, they tend to be inherited together and do not assort independently.

### Step 3: Analyze the Impact of Linkage on Mendel's Laws
If Mendel had studied traits determined by linked genes, the following would occur:
- **Law of Dominance**: This law could still be observed since it pertains to the relationship between alleles of a single gene.
- **Law of Segregation**: This law would also still apply because it deals with the separation of alleles during gamete formation.
- **Law of Independent Assortment**: This law would not hold true for linked genes. If genes are linked, they do not assort independently, meaning that the combinations of traits seen in the offspring would not reflect a 9:3:3:1 ratio typical of dihybrid crosses.

### Step 4: Conclusion
Thus, if Mendel had chosen to study traits determined by linked genes, he would not have discovered the **Law of Independent Assortment**. This is because the presence of linkage would prevent the independent assortment of traits, leading to fewer recombinant types in the offspring.

### Final Answer
If Mendel had chosen to study traits determined by linked genes, he would not have discovered the **Law of Independent Assortment**.

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