what is genetic linkage

Genetic linkage is the tendency of certain genes located close together on a chromosome to be inherited together as a unit. This occurs because these genes are less likely to undergo recombination, which is the process that shuffles and exchanges genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis.

The degree of genetic linkage between two genes is measured by the frequency of recombination events between them. If two genes are located very close together on a chromosome, they are more likely to be inherited together and have a low recombination frequency. Conversely, if two genes are far apart, they are more likely to be separated during recombination and have a high recombination frequency.

Genetic linkage is important in genetics because it helps determine the inheritance patterns of genes and the likelihood of certain traits or disorders being passed down together. It can also be used to create genetic maps that show the relative positions of genes on chromosomes.