The law of independent assortment applies to which of the following examples?

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The law of independent assortment states that the alleles for different traits segregate independently of one another when gametes are formed. This principle applies specifically to genes that are located on different chromosomes or far apart from each other on the same chromosome, which allows them to assort independently during meiosis.

In the context of the answer provided, two genes on opposite ends of a chromosome are more likely to assort independently because they are separated by a greater distance on the chromosome. This physical distance reduces the likelihood of recombination occurring between them, thus supporting independent assortment. When genes are situated far apart on the same chromosome, the effects of crossing over during meiosis lead to the mixing of alleles, resulting in a situation similar to independent assortment.

In contrast, genes that are located close to each other on the same chromosome are more likely to be inherited together due to genetic linkage, and identical alleles pertain to variations of a single gene rather than multiple traits. Lastly, dependent factors affecting genetics refer to situations where the outcome for one trait may influence another, which is contrary to the concept of independent assortment.