15.1.2

Linked Genes

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Linked Genes

Linkage is when genes that are close to one another on a chromosome are likely to be inherited together. Linkage shows that some allele combinations are not inherited independently of each other.

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Mendel's law

  • Mendel's law of independent assortment states that genes do not influence the sorting of alleles into gametes. This is not always the case.
  • Some allele combinations are not inherited independently of each other.
  • Genes that are located close to each other on the same chromosome are more likely to be inherited as a pair.
    • This is called linkage.
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Autosomes

  • Autosomes are all the chromosomes except the sex chromosomes (X and Y).
  • Autosomes are arranged in pairs called homologous chromosomes.
  • Homologous chromosomes consist of the same genes in the same order along the chromosome.
    • There is some variation if the chromosomes have different alleles but the genes are the same.
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Recombination

  • When gametes are produced by meiosis, multiple sections of homologous chromosomes are exchanged in a process called recombination.
  • If two genes are located in close proximity on the same chromosome, they are more likely to be exchanged together and not separated in recombination.
  • The genes are more likely to be transmitted to a gamete together.
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Linkage

  • Genes that are close together on the same autosome are more likely to be transmitted to a gamete together.
  • The genes are linked. This is autosomal linkage.
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Linked genes - example

  • Imagine a dihybrid cross involving flower color and plant height in which the genes are next to each other on the chromosome.
  • If one homologous chromosome has alleles for tall plants and red flowers, and the other chromosome has genes for short plants and yellow flowers, then when the gametes are formed:
    • The tall and red alleles will go together into a gamete.
    • The short and yellow alleles will go into other gametes.
  • These are called the parental genotypes because they have been inherited intact from the parents of the individual producing gametes.
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Linked genes - example 2

  • However, unlike if the genes were on different chromosomes, there will be no gametes with tall and yellow alleles and no gametes with short and red alleles.
  • If you create the Punnett square with these gametes, you will see that the Mendelian prediction of a 9:3:3:1 outcome of a dihybrid cross would not apply.
    • As the distance between two genes increases, the probability of one or more crossovers between them increases, and the genes behave more like they are on separate chromosomes.
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Linked genes and distances

  • Geneticists have used the proportion of recombinant gametes (the ones not like the parents) as a measure of how far apart genes are on a chromosome.
    • Using this information, they have constructed elaborate maps of genes on chromosomes for well-studied organisms, including humans.

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1Unity & Diversity - Molecules

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3Unity & Diversity - Organisms

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5Form & Function - Molecules

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7Form & Function - Organisms

8Form & Function - Ecosystems

9Interaction & Interdependence - Molecules

10Interaction & Interdependence - Cells

11Interaction & Interdependence - Organisms

12Interaction & Interdependence - Ecosystems

12.1Populations & Communities

12.2Transfers of Energy & Matter

13Continuity & Change - Molecules

14Continuity & Change - Cells

15Continuity & Change - Organisms

16Continuity & Change - Ecosystems

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