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Home > Science > What is the Difference Between Linked and Unlinked Genes?

Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Linked and Unlinked Genes?

🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚

The difference between linked and unlinked genes lies in their physical proximity on chromosomes and their inheritance patterns during sexual reproduction.

Linked Genes:

  • Located on the same chromosome and close to each other.
  • Inherited together, as they cannot be separated by genetic recombination.
  • Unlikely to show independent assortment, as they are inherited as a single unit.

Unlinked Genes:

  • Present on separate chromosomes or far away from each other on the same chromosome.
  • Inherited independently and follow Mendel's law of independent assortment.
  • Have a lower probability of being inherited together.

In summary, linked genes are close together on a chromosome and are inherited together, while unlinked genes are on different chromosomes or far apart on the same chromosome and are inherited independently.

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  • What is the Difference Between Linked and Unlinked Genes?
  • Comparative Table: Linked vs Unlinked Genes

    • Comparative Table: Linked vs Unlinked Genes

    Linked and unlinked genes are two types of genes that differ in their inheritance patterns during sexual reproduction. Here is a table summarizing the differences between them:

    Linked Genes Unlinked Genes
    Inherited together, as they are located on the same chromosome Inherited independently, as they are located on separate chromosomes or far apart on the same chromosome
    Recombination frequency of 0% Recombination frequency of 50% or more
    Show complete linkage Show partial or complete linkage, depending on the genes' distance
    Alleles are inherited together more frequently Alleles assort independently and are less likely to be inherited together

    In summary, linked genes are more likely to be inherited together due to their physical proximity on the same chromosome, while unlinked genes are less likely to be inherited together as they are located on separate chromosomes or far apart on the same chromosome.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.