How many unique gametes could be produced through independent assortment by an individual with the genotype AaBbCCDdEE?

A) 4

B) 8

C) 16

D) 32

E) 64

The answer is B) 8.

There are 5 genes. There are two possibilities for each of the heterozygous genes and only one possibility for each of homozygous genes. So, the possibilities for each gene are:

Aa - 2: A or a;

Bb - 2: B or b;

CC - 1: D;

Dd - 2: D or d;

EE - 1: E.

Genotype AaBbCCDdEE will have

2 x 2 x 1 x 2 x 1 gametes

Thus, there will be 8 unique gametes produced by an individual with the genotype AaBbCCDdEE