Which term describes genes that are on the same chromosome and tend to be inherited together, but can separate via crossing-over?

• A. Independent genes
• B. Mutant genes
• C. Recessive genes
• D. Linked genes

Answer: (D)

Genes that lie on the same chromosome tend to be inherited together because they’re physically linked; they usually pass into offspring as a unit. However, crossing-over during meiosis can swap segments between homologous chromosomes, which can separate those genes onto different chromatids and create new combinations. So, while they’re often inherited together, they’re not always, thanks to recombination. That’s why the correct term is linked genes. Mutant or recessive describe allele types rather than their chromosomal arrangement, and independent genes refer to genes that assort independently, typically because they’re on different chromosomes or far apart on the same chromosome.