What is Mendel's law of segregation?

Mendel's law of segregation refers specifically to the process by which allele pairs separate during the formation of gametes. This principle is essential for understanding how traits are inherited from one generation to the next. According to this law, each individual carries two alleles for each gene, one inherited from each parent. During gamete formation, which occurs through the process of meiosis, these alleles segregate so that each gamete receives only one allele from each pair. As a result, when fertilization occurs, the offspring will inherit one allele from each parent, restoring the pair.

This concept lays the foundation for predicting inheritance patterns and explains the segregation of traits in hybrid offspring, particularly in pea plants studied by Gregor Mendel. It is a fundamental principle of genetics that is crucial for understanding how traits pass from parents to offspring.