What term describes the independent segregation of genes during the formation of gametes?

The term that describes the independent segregation of genes during the formation of gametes is independent assortment. This principle, established by Gregor Mendel through his experiments with pea plants, indicates that alleles for different traits segregate independently of one another when gametes are formed. As a result, the distribution of one pair of alleles into gametes does not affect the distribution of another pair, leading to genetic variation among offspring.

This concept is crucial in understanding how traits are inherited, particularly for organisms that are heterozygous for multiple genes. Independent assortment is a fundamental principle of genetics that explains the diversity of genetic combinations that can occur in offspring.

Other terms mentioned do not pertain to this principle. For instance, gene linkage refers to genes located close together on the same chromosome that tend to be inherited together, which does not contribute to the independent segregation of genes. Dominant inheritance describes a situation where one allele masks the expression of another, and codominance refers to a situation where both alleles in a heterozygote are expressed equally. Each of these concepts introduces different mechanisms of inheritance but does not reflect the independent segregation of genes as described by independent assortment.