Question

What are linked genes?

Answer 1

Linked genes are genes that are located on the same chromosome and tend to be inherited together during the process of inheritance. Because they are physically close, they do not assort independently as Mendel’s law suggests. Instead, these genes form a linkage group and are usually passed as a unit from one generation to the next, unless crossing over during meiosis separates them. The degree of linkage depends on the distance between these genes on the chromosome. Linked genes reduce genetic variability in offspring unless crossing over breaks the linkage.