Which inheritance pattern results in traits blending in the phenotype?

Traits blending in the phenotype is characteristic of incomplete dominance. In this inheritance pattern, the dominant allele does not completely mask the effects of the recessive allele, leading to a mixed or intermediate phenotype in heterozygous individuals. For example, when a red flower (RR) is crossed with a white flower (WW), the resulting offspring (RW) may exhibit a pink flower, demonstrating a blend of both parental traits.

In contrast, codominance involves both alleles being fully expressed in the phenotype, such as in blood type AB, which exhibits traits of both A and B blood types without blending. Dominance refers to the relationship where one allele completely masks the presence of another, resulting in the dominant trait being expressed solely, without any blending. Independent assortment is a principle that describes how alleles segregate during gamete formation and does not pertain to the blending of traits. Therefore, incomplete dominance is the pattern that accurately reflects the blending of traits in the phenotype.