2001 AIPMT Principles of Inheritance and VariationLinkage Easy Question 3 of 3 in Linkage

Independent assortment of genes does not take place when : -

A Genes are located on homologous chromosomes
B Genes are linked and located on same chromosome
C Genes are located on non-homologous chromosomes
D All the above

The answer is B.

Solution

Mendel's law of independent assortment holds for genes located on different (non-homologous) chromosomes, which separate independently during meiosis.
Genes located close together on the same chromosome are linked; they tend to be inherited together and do not assort independently.
So independent assortment does not take place when genes are linked and located on the same chromosome.

Concept Linkage prevents independent assortment

Linkage in past papers

3 questions from this chapter have appeared across 3 exam years.