What is the segregation of genes?
A general term for how genes get distributed during meiosis. There are many ways in which segregation of genes occurs. Four you should be familiar with for the MCAT include: • Recombination • Linkage • Independent assortment • Single and Double Crossovers Linkage Linkage refers to the proximity by which two genes are located in relation to each other. When they are very close they tend to “travel” together, and, in effect are linked together. By default, linked genes are on the same chromosome Recombination The combination of genes in an offspring resulting from the combination of parental genes. Recombination can be thought of as occurring in two ways: • Independent assortment of genes: The recombination of genes of different chromosomes, i.e. unlinked genes • Crossing over of genes: The recombination of genes on the same chromosome, i.e. linked genes Independent assortment How genes on different chromosomes distribute themselves in daughter cells. • This can best be seen in how chr
