What Effect Does Gene Linkage Have on the Overall Variety

Question

What effect does gene linkage have on the overall variety of individuals produced?
A)It increases the probable variation between individuals.
B)It does not affect the probable variation between individuals.
C)It decreases the probable variation between individuals.
D)It causes excessive crossing-over within the genome.

Accepted Answer

Gene linkage refers to the tendency of genes that are located near each other on a chromosome to be inherited together as a unit, rather than assorting independently. This decreases the probability of recombination during meiosis, which in turn decreases the possible combinations of alleles that can be produced in the gametes. This ultimately results in a decreased overall variety of individuals that can be produced.