Final answer:
QTL mapping is the method used to scan chromosomes for regions influencing quantitative trait variation, utilizing genetic markers and linkage analysis to develop a genetic map associated with the trait.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of scanning chromosomes for regions that influence variation in a quantitative trait is called QTL mapping (Quantitative Trait Locus mapping). It involves the use of genetic markers to identify the location on chromosomes that are associated with a certain trait. This process begins with linkage analysis of chromosomes, which examines the recombination frequency between genes to determine if they are linked and thus may show co-segregation with the trait in question.
In QTL mapping, scientists develop a genetic map based on linkage analysis. As recombination frequency increases with the physical distance between two loci, the closer two genetic markers are on a chromosome, the more likely they are to be inherited together. By observing which markers are inherited with a particular quantitative trait, researchers can identify regions within the genome that contribute to that trait's variation. The completion of genome sequences and the advent of next-generation sequencing technologies have greatly enhanced the ability to perform QTL mapping.