Multiple choice

The ratio of complementary genes and the ratio of epistasis are

  1. same as Mendel's dihybrid ratio, since they obey Mendel's second law of independent assortment

  2. different from Mendel's dihybrid ratio, since they do not obey Mendel's second law of independent assortment

  3. same as Mendel's dihybrid ratio, since they do not obey Mendel's second law of independent assortment

  4. different from Mendel's dihybrid ratio, but they obey Mendel's second law of independent assortment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Complementary genes (like in sweet pea flower color) produce a 9:7 phenotypic ratio, while various forms of epistasis produce ratios like 12:3:1, 9:3:4, or 15:1. All these ratios differ from Mendel's standard 9:3:3:1 dihybrid ratio, but the genes involved still assort independently and follow Mendel's second law. The deviation occurs due to gene interactions at the phenotypic level, not because genes fail to assort independently.

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