What is described by the term gene linkage?

Gene linkage refers to the phenomenon where certain genes located on the same chromosome tend to be inherited together during the process of meiosis. This occurs because genes that are physically close to each other on the same chromosome are less likely to be separated by recombination events during the formation of gametes. As a result, these genes often coexist within the same set of alleles passed on from one generation to the next, leading to a correlated inheritance pattern. This is why the term highlights alleles being inherited together, indicating a relationship in their transmission that can be traced through family lineages.

In contrast, independent inheritance occurs when genes are located on different chromosomes or are far apart on the same chromosome, allowing them to assort independently according to Mendel's law of independent assortment. Random gene mutations refer to alterations in the DNA sequence that can happen sporadically but do not implicate linked inheritance. Lastly, genes located on different chromosomes do not exhibit linkage since they are inherited independently of one another.