Why are genes on the same chromosome sometimes inherited together?

Genes located on the same chromosome are inherited together because they belong to the same linkage group. During cell division, these genes act and move as a single unit rather than assorting independently, which is why they do not follow Mendel’s law of independent assortment.12

The strength of this inheritance depends on the physical distance between the genes on the chromosome. Genes that are closer together exhibit tighter linkage, meaning they are less likely to be separated during meiosis. Conversely, genes located further apart are more susceptible to being separated by crossing over, a process where homologous chromosomes exchange segments and create new genetic combinations. By studying the frequency of these recombination events, scientists can create chromosome maps to estimate the relative positions of genes.23