Independent Assortment

• Mendel's fourth postulate states that

• during gamete formation, segregating pairs of unit factors assort independently of each
other.
• the two pairs of contrasting traits are inherited independently during gamete
formation.
• all possible combinations of gametes will form with equal frequency.
• The probability of each plant’s seeds being yellow or green is independent of the
probability of its seeds being round or wrinkled

• The frequencies (probabilities) of all possible F2 phenotypes can be calculated by applying the
product law of probabilities.
3.4 The Trihybrid Cross Demonstrates That Mendel's Principles Apply to Inheritance
of Multiple Traits

Mendel demonstrated that the identical processes of segregation and independent

assortment apply to the three pairs of contrasting traits in a trihybrid or three-factor cross.
The results of the cross are easily calculated if the principles of segregation and
independent assortment are followed
 The Forked-Line Method

• The forked-line (branched diagram) method is easier to use than a Punnett square for
analysis of inheritance of larger number of traits.
• This method uses the simple application of the laws of probability established for a
dihybrid cross
 The Forked-Line Method

• The forked-line method can be used to solve crosses involving any number of gene pairs,
providing that all gene pairs assort independently of each other.

Dd D and d DD, Dd, dd 1 dom 1 rec

CcDd