What is the name of Mendel's second law?

Mendel's second law is known as the Law of Independent Assortment. This law states that the alleles for different traits are distributed to gametes independently of one another during meiosis. This means that the inheritance of one trait will not affect the inheritance of another trait, as long as the genes are located on different chromosomes or are far apart on the same chromosome. The principle allows for the possibility of genetic variation among offspring when two or more traits are being considered simultaneously.

Mendel illustrated this law through his experiments with dihybrid crosses, where he observed the ratios of traits in the offspring. The outcome showed that each trait behaved independently, providing the foundation for understanding genetic combinations in offspring. This discovery laid the groundwork for the field of genetics, demonstrating how traits can segregate independently in the presence of multiple characteristics.