Consider the cross Aa BB Cc dd X Aa bb cc Dd. Assume that the four allelic pairs assort independently. (a) How many different types of gametes can the parent with the genotype Aa BB Cc dd produce?

The parent with the genotype Aa BB Cc dd can produce 4 different types of gametes.

Explanation:

The law of independent assortment states that the alleles for a trait separate when gametes are formed.

In the parent genotype Aa BB Cc dd, the allelic pairs with variation present are Aa and Cc. Therefore, the source of variation in the possible combinations during meiosis, largely arises from these 2 allelic pairs.

Independently assorting these pairs, we have; A, a, B, B, C, c, d, d

The possible combinations therefore are:

ABCd ABcd aBCd aBcd