The principle that alleles of different genes sort randomly during gamete formation. The principle that alleles of different genes sort randomly during gamete formation is known as the law of independent assortment. This law states that when two or more pairs of contrasting traits are inherited, the inheritance of one trait does not influence the inheritance of another. In other words, each trait is independently passed to offspring, regardless of the other traits being inherited. This principle is rooted in the process of meiosis, where chromosomes separate independently, allowing for a variety of genetic combinations in offspring.