Mendel found certain traits not to assort independently. It is due to

Options

A. Dominace
B. Linkage
C. Crossing over
D. Amitosis

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Mendel's Laws**: Mendel, known as the father of genetics, formulated several laws based on his experiments with pea plants. Two of the most important laws are the law of dominance and the law of independent assortment.

2. **Law of Independent Assortment**: This law states that the inheritance of one trait does not affect the inheritance of another trait. For this law to hold true, the genes for these traits must be located on different chromosomes.

3. **Linkage of Genes**: If two genes are located on the same chromosome, they tend to be inherited together. This phenomenon is known as linkage. When genes are linked, they do not assort independently, which contradicts Mendel's law of independent assortment.

4. **Evaluating the Options**:
- **Dominance**: This refers to the expression of one trait over another in the phenotype. It does not explain the non-independent assortment of traits.
- **Linkage**: This is the correct answer, as it explains that genes located on the same chromosome do not assort independently.
- **Crossing Over**: This occurs during meiosis and involves the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes. While it can create new combinations of traits, it does not directly explain why certain traits do not assort independently.
- **Amitosis**: This is a type of cell division that does not involve the formation of spindle fibers and is not relevant to the question.

5. **Conclusion**: The reason Mendel found certain traits not to assort independently is due to linkage, where genes are located on the same chromosome.

**Final Answer**: Mendel found certain traits not to assort independently due to linkage.

---