If two genes are on the same chromosome but are far apart, what is expected about their assortment?

If two genes are on the same chromosome but are far apart, what is expected about their assortment?

• A. They will not assort independently
• B. They will still assort independently
• C. They cannot recombine
• D. They are located at the centromere

Answer: (B)

Distance between two genes on the same chromosome affects how often crossing over can separate them. When they are far apart, a recombination event during meiosis is more likely to occur between them, producing recombinant gametes. That shuffles which allele from each gene ends up in a given gamete, so the genes behave as if they assort independently even though they sit on the same chromosome. So the best answer is that they will still assort independently because recombination between distant loci breaks the linkage. If they were very close together, they would stay linked and not assort independently as often; being near the centromere would further reduce recombination, not increase independence.

Distance between two genes on the same chromosome affects how often crossing over can separate them. When they are far apart, a recombination event during meiosis is more likely to occur between them, producing recombinant gametes. That shuffles which allele from each gene ends up in a given gamete, so the genes behave as if they assort independently even though they sit on the same chromosome. So the best answer is that they will still assort independently because recombination between distant loci breaks the linkage. If they were very close together, they would stay linked and not assort independently as often; being near the centromere would further reduce recombination, not increase independence.