Mendel's Law Synonyms

Any of the principles first proposed by Gregor Mendel to describe the inheritance of traits passed from one generation to the next. &diamf3; Mendel's first law (also called the law of segregation ) states that during the formation of reproductive cells (gametes), pairs of hereditary factors (genes) for a specific trait separate so that offspring receive one factor from each parent. &diamf3; Mendel's second law (also called the law of independent assortment ) states that chance determines which factor for a particular trait is inherited. &diamf3; Mendel's third law (also called the law of dominance ) states that one of the factors for a pair of inherited traits will be dominant and the other recessive, unless both factors are recessive.