Random segregation and independent assortment

[mixel]

Hey everyone, quick BoL question:

What's the difference between random segregation and independent assortment? Every time I think I understand how either one works it gets more confusing to me and I second guess things. Can somebody check my understanding of it and correct any misconceptions or give advice on how I might understand/explain it better?

To my knowledge, independent assortment is the assortment of chromosomes containing maternal and paternal genetic information independent of how other pairs of homologous chromosomes have aligned themselves during metaphase, which increases genetic variation by resulting in highly varied assortments of maternal and paternal DNA in the gametes. As I understand it, random segregation is the random separation of chromatids from every homologous pair into gametes during anaphase(?), which increases variation by ensuring that inehrited homologous chromosomes come from both paternal & maternal genetic information as opposed to all chromatids from the parents father or mother.

Is this right? Am I better off explaining them differently? How can I do it more succinctly?

Thanks

[vox nihili]

Hey everyone, quick BoL question:

What's the difference between random segregation and independent assortment? Every time I think I understand how either one works it gets more confusing to me and I second guess things. Can somebody check my understanding of it and correct any misconceptions or give advice on how I might understand/explain it better?

To my knowledge, independent assortment is the assortment of chromosomes containing maternal and paternal genetic information independent of how other pairs of homologous chromosomes have aligned themselves during metaphase, which increases genetic variation by resulting in highly varied assortments of maternal and paternal DNA in the gametes. As I understand it, random segregation is the random separation of chromatids from every homologous pair into gametes during anaphase(?), which increases variation by ensuring that inehrited homologous chromosomes come from both paternal & maternal genetic information as opposed to all chromatids from the parents father or mother.

Is this right? Am I better off explaining them differently? How can I do it more succinctly?

Thanks

Really glad you've given us your own thoughts when asking this question, awesome stuff!

Your definitions are perfect, too. So no worries there!

[mixel]

Thanks, that's reassuring 
Should I work on making it more succinct?

[maddiewainwright]

Thanks, that's reassuring 
Should I work on making it more succinct?

Hey mixel,
Just weighing in here, your definitions are totally correct, but it wouldn't hurt to make them a little more succinct (just makes it a little easier to memorise as well!)
Definitions I use are:
The law of random segregation: during gamete formation, alleles responsible for the same trait separate from one another
The law of independent assortment: alleles for different traits are unrelatedly sorted into gametes
Also never hurts to include a diagram if it's a 4m question you're answering, helps show the marker you understand what you're saying

[mixel]

Hey mixel,
Just weighing in here, your definitions are totally correct, but it wouldn't hurt to make them a little more succinct (just makes it a little easier to memorise as well!)
Definitions I use are:
The law of random segregation: during gamete formation, alleles responsible for the same trait separate from one another
The law of independent assortment: alleles for different traits are unrelatedly sorted into gametes
Also never hurts to include a diagram if it's a 4m question you're answering, helps show the marker you understand what you're saying

Thanks, that's what I was looking for