Final answer:
Research on X-linked inheritance and chromosome mapping is primarily associated with Walter Sutton and Theodor Boveri for the Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance, with later contributions from researchers like Sturtevant and Stern for creating genetic maps and studying X-linked phenotypes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main researchers associated with X-linked inheritance, chromosome mapping, and the inversion of chromosome pieces include Walter Sutton, Theodor Boveri, and later on, researchers like Sturtevant and Stern. Walter Sutton and Theodor Boveri are credited with the foundational Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance, which posits that genes are the unit of heredity and are carried on chromosomes. In the early 20th century, Sturtevant used recombination frequency to deduce the relative positions of linked genes on chromosomes, creating the first genetic maps. Stern observed X-linked phenotypes and related structural changes in X chromosomes through genetic crosses and studying chromosome behavior in offspring.
The study of genetic maps and X-linked inheritance is essential for understanding how certain traits and disorders are passed down, especially those associated with the X chromosome. This knowledge has been critical for advancing the field of genetics and for providing insight into genetic diseases and their inheritance patterns.