Testing the Hypothesis of Independent Assortment

Testing the Hypothesis of Independent Assortment
The theory of independent assortment was introduced to genetics by Gregory Mendel while studying heredity in pea plant (Pisum sativum). The principle gives an explanation of how various genes in an organism separates independently after the development of reproductive cells. Independent assortment is based on monohybrid cross, which is a type of breeding that encompasses parental generation with different alleles at the locus of interest. The testing of Mendel’s theory of independent assortment is carried out on a pea plant, the basic plant used by Mendel. The growing and crossing of the plant should be handled with care to prevent the occurrence of errors that may affect the realization of the desired results.
A large pea plant farm is required while conducting the study, which should grow and mature in one season. The plants must be true breeding plants with a pair of traits each: dwarf plants with constricted pods and tall plants with inflated pods. It is important to note that the traits will be sorted independently; thus, resulting in a ratio of 3:1 for the 1st progeny and 9:3:3:1 for the subsequent progeny. Two pure breeds’ parental pea plants were crossed, which resulted in tall F1 offspring with inflated pods. The results indicated that the traits for tallness and inflated pods are dominant over the dwarf and constricted pods, which are recessive.
The genes for tall and dwarf plants were represented by T and t respectively while those of inflated and constricted bonds were I and i respectively.

All the F1 generation had the genotype of TtIi. The phenotypic ratio of the F2 generation is 9:3:3:1 for tall/inflated: tall/constricted: dwarf/inflated: dwarf/constricted. Failure to follow Mendel’s laws of heredity may lead to undesired characters. Therefore, precaution measures have been put in place to overcome the occurrence of errors. The measures include avoiding the occurrence of self-pollination since it will disrupt the desired outcome. The parent plants should always be pure breeds. In addition, pea plant is preferred since it is easier to manipulate, matures faster, and exhibits the desired characters among others.
TI Ti tI ti
TI TTII TITi TItI TIti
Ti TiTI TiTi Ti Ti
tI tITI tITi TItI tItI
ti tiTI tiTi titI titi
The F2 generation has 2706 tall/inflated, 930 tall/constricted, 888 dwarf/inflated and 300 dwarfs/constricted. The total plants were 4824. Therefore, their phenotypic ratio is 2706: 930: 888: 300, which when reduced becomes 56:19: 18: 6. The ratio indicates a cross linkage to the theoretical figure of 9:3:3:1. However, due to unfavorable conditions for the growth of the plant as well as unusual environmental changes, the ratio differs. The ratio indicates a nearby correspondence with the Mendelian law of independent assortment.
In summary, the results of the experiment are positive to the theoretical figures. However, due to several factors such as temperature change, interference with the plants, as well as poor environmental conditions among others. The use of fewer plants enables the deduction of correct results. It is of the essence to note that Gregory Mendel opined that a pair of allele contains genes, which are inherited in a dormant and recessive pattern. The more the plantation for the pea plants the more the chances of the occurrence of error. For instance, a windy day may lead to the destruction of the results since plant may fall or be diagnosed with the improper substances.