High School

Mendel's Law of Segregation separates alleles in forming gametes. Beginning with the genotype (Ww), how would these genes be distributed among four sperm cells?

A. WW, Ww, Ww, ww
B. Two containing w and two containing W
C. Many ways as a matter of chance
D. All W or all w

Answer :

B. Two containing w and two containing W. According to Mendel's Law of Segregation, a genotype (Ww) will produce gametes with either W or w alleles.

Four sperm cells would thus have two with W alleles and two with w alleles. Hence, the correct answer is B.

Mendel's Law of Segregation states that during gamete formation, the two alleles for each trait separate, ensuring each gamete gets only one allele. This process is observed during meiosis, where homologous chromosomes separate first in Anaphase I and then sister chromatids in Anaphase II.

Given the genotype (Ww), according to Mendel's First Law, this individual would produce gametes with either the W allele or the w allele. Therefore, four sperm cells would have two with the W allele and two with the w allele.