What does Mendel's Law of Segregation state?

Mendel's Law of Segregation is a fundamental principle of genetics that describes how alleles segregate during gamete formation. Specifically, it states that during the formation of gametes, the two alleles for a trait separate from each other so that each gamete carries only one allele for each trait. This law is based on Mendel's observations of pea plants, where he noted that traits such as flower color and seed shape segregated independently when gametes were formed.

This means that when an organism produces gametes, it does so with each gamete receiving one allele from a pair of alleles that determine a specific trait. As a result, offspring inherit one allele from each parent, maintaining genetic diversity. This fundamental principle underlies how traits are passed from one generation to the next, allowing for the various combinations of traits that can arise.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect Mendel's Law of Segregation. The notion that only dominant alleles are expressed ignores the existence of recessive alleles and how they may be expressed in the presence of homozygous recessive genotypes. The idea that each gamete receives two alleles contradicts the law itself, as each gamete should only receive one allele