Independent assortment

Independent assortment is a principle in genetics stating that the way one pair of genes (traits) separates is independent of how another pair separates during the formation of reproductive cells. This means that the inheritance of one trait doesn’t influence the inheritance of another, allowing for a variety of combinations in offspring. Essentially, different gene pairs are assorted independently, leading to genetic diversity. This concept was fundamental in understanding how traits are passed down and explains why siblings can have different characteristics even though they share the same parents.