Alleles and Mendelian segregation
A diploid individual's paired alleles can segregate into gametes.
Key knowledge
In ordinary Mendelian segregation, the two alleles at a locus in a diploid individual separate during gamete formation, so each gamete receives one of them. Fertilization combines parental alleles. This discrete inheritance differs from permanent blending of parental hereditary factors.
Conditions and scope
- Assumes ordinary segregation of the specified locus; a probability of one half is an expectation, not a guaranteed ratio in a small family.
- Dominance and independent assortment have limits: linked genes and non-Mendelian inheritance require additional models.
Sources · 3
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
- Biology 2e, 12.3 Epistasis, pathway and pigmentation exampleMary Ann Clark, Matthew Douglas and Jung Choi — OpenStax, Rice UniversityTextbook chapter
- Talking Glossary: Mendelian InheritanceNational Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), NIHReference guide
- Biology XII: Principles of Inheritance and VariationNCERTTextbook chapter · PDF
Evidence and review
Published Mendelian segregation model and its stated extensions; no breeding experiment was repeated.
2026-10-10 · English diploid/gamete scope checked against section 12.3 and NHGRI; no claim that all traits follow a simple dominant/recessive pattern.
Foundational review
2026-10-10 · Fresh primary-source inspection of the complete compact record, including every statement, equation, quantity and material condition, followed by independent AI editorial review. This check does not certify all linked lessons or every passage of every cited publication.
Sources from other places
Agreement within this scope
Discrete alleles and ordinary Mendelian segregation into gametes.
Expected ratios are probabilities; small families need not reproduce them exactly.
NCERT
- Biology XII: Principles of Inheritance and Variation IndiaEnglish
§4.2, printed pp55–59: alleles, genotype, phenotype and segregation; §4.4, printed p66: polygenic traits and environment
- Biology XII: Principles of Inheritance and Variation
Entry details
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- bio-inheritance
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