Linkage

Definition

Linkage in plain English

Genes sit along your chromosomes like stops on a subway line, and genes that are close together tend to travel to the next generation as a package deal — that's linkage. The reason is that when chromosomes swap pieces (crossing over) during egg/sperm formation, the swap point rarely lands in the tiny gap between two neighbors, so they usually stay glued together. Genes far apart, though, get split up often. Scientists even measure distance by how often the split happens: 1% chance of a crossover between two genes equals 1 centimorgan (cM) of 'genetic distance' — basically using breakups to map how far apart the stops are.

Practice Linkage

What is the fundamental structural difference that explains this biochemical limitation?

Related MCAT terms

• Action potential
• Active vs passive transport
• Allele
• Amino acid (essential 9)
• Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)
• Autonomic nervous system
• Beta-oxidation
• Cardiac cycle
• Cell cycle checkpoints
• Chemiosmosis