Question

Which of the following processes is responsible for independent assortment of traits?

Group of answer choices

A Meiosis II

B Meiosis I

C Mutation

D Mitosis

Answer 1

Mitosis is equational division, which takes place generally during somatic cell formation from their mother cells. During mitosis, no exchange of chromosomal segments takes place. So there is no random assortment of traits by mitosis.
Mutation is the abrupt change in the DNA sequences at certain specific places in DNA. This makes only a change in the sequence of certain genes, which results in the differential expression from that of the previous expression. Mutation doesn't cause independent assortment of traits.
Meiosis II is similar to mitosis. No exchange of genes takes place in meiosis II. So, it doesn't cause any independent assortment of traits.

Meiosis I is the actual reduction phase of the meiosis. In meiosis I, a special process called, genetic recombination takes place, during which, crossing over of the non-sister chromatids of homologous chromosomes occurs. This results in the exchange of genes from one chromosome to its homologous chromosomes. After crossing is completed, the chromosomal segments of one homologous chromosome get cut and then recombined with the chromosomal segment of its homologous chromosome.
This recombination process results in the new combination of genes of different traits. The new combinations are made independent of any influence.
Thus, meiosis I is responsible for the independent assortment of traits.

Hence, option, "B" is the correct answer.