What is independent assortment?

Independent assortment is a basic principle of genetics developed by a monk named Gregor Mendel in the 1860's. Mendel formulated this principle after discovering another principle now known as Mendel's law of segregation. This principle states that the alleles for a trait separate when gametes are formed.

According to the Dictionary

the principle, originated by Gregor Mendel, stating that when two ormore characteristics are inherited, individual hereditary factors assortindependently during gamete production, giving different traits anequal opportunity of occurring together.