Definition for Independent assortment
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Independent assortment is a basic principle of genetics developed by a monk named Gregor Mendel in the 1860's. Mendel formulated this principle after discovering another principle now known as Mendel's law of segregation. This principle states that the alleles for a trait separate when gametes are formed. These allele pairs are then randomly united at fertilization. Mendel arrived at this conclusion by performing monohybrid crosses. These were cross-pollination experiments with pea plants that differed in one trait, for example pod color.