Mendel's principle of segregation means that the germ cells always receive:

Options

A. One pair of alleles
B. One quarter of the genes
C. One of the paired alleles
D. Any pair of alleles

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Germ Cells**: Germ cells are the reproductive cells (gametes) that give rise to sperm and eggs. In humans and many organisms, these cells are haploid, meaning they contain one set of chromosomes (n).

2. **Mendel's Principle of Segregation**: This principle states that during the formation of gametes, the two alleles for a trait segregate from each other. Each gamete will receive only one allele from each pair.

3. **Alleles and Genes**: Alleles are different versions of a gene. For example, if we consider a gene for height, there might be an allele for tallness (T) and an allele for shortness (t). In a diploid organism, these alleles exist in pairs (TT, Tt, or tt).

4. **Gamete Formation**: When gametes are formed through meiosis, the alleles segregate so that each gamete receives only one allele from each pair. For example, if the genotype is Tt, the gametes produced will be T and t.

5. **Evaluating the Options**:
- **Option 1**: "One pair of alleles" - This is incorrect because germ cells are haploid and do not contain pairs of alleles.
- **Option 2**: "One quarter of genes" - This is also incorrect as germ cells receive one complete set of alleles, not a fraction.
- **Option 3**: "One of the paired alleles" - This is correct. Each germ cell receives one allele from the pair during segregation.

6. **Conclusion**: According to Mendel's principle of segregation, germ cells will always receive one of the paired alleles.

**Final Answer**: One of the paired alleles.

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