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4: Recombination, linkage, and mapping

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"Traditional" Mendelian genetic analysis depends on loci assorting independently -- but that is not always the case. We say that loci that do not assort independently are linked -- and the most common reason for this is that they are physically on the same piece of DNA. In this chapter, you'll review the mechanistic (chromosomal) basis for independent assortment and linkage, and practice using quantitative tools for measuring linkage (recombination analysis) and for asserting that two loci are assorting independently (the chi-square test.)

 

Learning Objectives

At the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

  • Summarize the meiotic basis of linkage and independent assortment
  • Define genetic linkage.
  • Describe why two loci do not always assort independently; and conversely, why two loci on the same chromosome may (still) assort independently
  • Describe how/why a test cross measures linkage and relate phenotypic data to rates of recombination
  • Use the results of a three-point test cross to produce a genetic map of three loci
  • Describe the utility of a chi-square test in linkage analysis and use a chi-square test to analyze the results of a transmission experiment.

 


4: Recombination, linkage, and mapping is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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