Final answer:
Offspring tend to inherit the parental pattern of alleles more frequently than the recombinant pattern when two genes are linked since linked genes are often transmitted together during meiosis. Crossing over can produce recombinant alleles but occurs less frequently for genes that are closely linked.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two genes are linked, offspring tend to inherit the parental pattern of alleles more often than the recombinant pattern of alleles. This is because linked genes are located in close proximity on the same chromosome, which makes them likely to be transmitted together during the process of meiosis. If the linked genes do not undergo crossing over, the parental alleles will be inherited together.
Thomas Hunt Morgan's research with fruit flies demonstrated that linked genes do not always stay together. When crossing over occurs between linked genes, recombinant alleles can be produced. Recombinant alleles are combinations of alleles that are not found in the parental generation. However, the frequency at which crossing over occurs is not random; it depends on the genes' proximity on the chromosome. Closely linked genes have a lower frequency of recombination, and thus offspring usually exhibit the parental types.
Inheritance Patterns and Crossing Over:
Genes on separate chromosomes or far apart on the same chromosome exhibit independent assortment, meaning that allele pairs separate independently during the formation of gametes. This results in a variety of combinations of alleles in the offspring. In contrast, linked genes that are close together tend to be inherited as a unit unless crossing over separates them. This results in a higher frequency of parental allele combinations in the offspring.