The phenomenon of genetic linkage arises from the fact that chromosomes are long strands of DNA that contain numerous genes. During meiosis, the process of cell division that produces gametes (sperm or eggs), homologous chromosomes pair up. When genes are located on the same chromosome, they tend to stay together and are passed on to the next generation as a unit. Genetic linkage is a fundamental concept in genetics that describes the tendency of genes located close to each other on a chromosome to be inherited together more frequently than expected by chance. This phenomenon occurs because genes that are physically close to each other on the same chromosome have a lower chance of undergoing recombination, the exchange of genetic material, during meiosis.
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