A gene map is best described as...

• A. The relative location of each gene on a chromosome
• B. The sequence of amino acids encoded by genes
• C. The number of chromosomes in a cell
• D. A diagram of enzyme pathways

Answer: (A)

A gene map shows where genes are located relative to one another on a chromosome, including their order and approximate distances between them as measured by recombination frequency. This helps us understand which genes tend to be inherited together because they’re close on the chromosome, and it’s based on genetic linkage rather than the exact DNA sequence. The sequence of amino acids encoded by genes describes proteins, not positions on the chromosome; the number of chromosomes in a cell reflects the karyotype, not gene layout; and a diagram of enzyme pathways maps metabolic steps, not gene locations.