Final answer:
Clegg et al.'s research on linkage disequilibrium involved analyzing genetic data to measure recombination rates and using outlier analyses to identify loci of adaptive significance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Clegg et al. studied the decay of linkage disequilibrium by analyzing genetic data, which required understanding the relationship between genetic linkage, crossing over, and genetic variation. By assessing the recombination rates between alleles on the same chromosome, they could measure how linked genes tend not to assort independently, contrary to the expectations of Mendelian inheritance. Advanced analyses like outlier analyses were used to identify loci of adaptive significance that were linked to molecular markers and deviated from neutral expectations, indicating the action of natural selection. They also considered factors, such as migration and genetic drift, that could affect allele frequencies and linkage disequilibrium over time.