Final answer:
It is true that genes on the same chromosome can appear to be on different chromosomes if they are far enough apart to have a recombination frequency of 50%, which corresponds to independent assortment.
Step-by-step explanation:
True. Genes can be far enough apart on the same chromosome that they exhibit a recombination frequency of 50%, which makes them appear as if they are on different chromosomes. Alfred Sturtevant utilized recombination frequency in constructing genetic maps, finding that genes with a recombination frequency of 0.50 are so far apart on the same chromosome or on different chromosomes that they assort independently, as per Mendel's laws.
This frequency indicates that offspring have an equal chance of being either recombinants or parental types, meaning every allele combination is equally represented. However, as genetic distances approach 0.50, it becomes challenging to determine if the genes are very far apart on the same chromosome or on different ones, as Sturtevant's predictions become less accurate.