In genetic terminology, what does "linked genes" refer to?

"Linked genes" refers to genes that are located close to each other on the same chromosome. When genes are close together on a chromosome, they tend to be inherited together during meiosis, as they are less likely to be separated by the process of recombination or crossing over. This close physical proximity means that the probability of these genes being inherited together is higher than for genes that are farther apart on the chromosome.

Understanding linked genes is fundamental to the study of inheritance patterns and genetic mapping. The concept is essential because it helps geneticists predict the likelihood of offspring inheriting certain traits based on the linkage of genes.

In contrast, genes located on different chromosomes are subject to independent assortment during gamete formation and do not exhibit linkage. Similarly, independently assorted genes are not influenced by their physical distance on the same chromosome. Dominance relationships among genes pertain to their expression rather than their chromosomal arrangement and do not describe the physical linkage.