Final answer:
In genetics, the closer the genes are on a chromosome, the2. lower the recombination frequency, while genes that are further apart have a higher frequency. This inverse relationship is foundational to the concept of genetic mapping.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question addresses the concept of genetic linkage and recombination frequency in genetics. The correct answer to the student's question is: The closer the genes, the lower the frequency of recombination. The further apart the genes, the higher the frequency of recombination. To explain, when two genes are located in close proximity on the same chromosome, they are considered linked, and their alleles are more likely to be transmitted through meiosis together, resulting in a lower probability of recombination.
Meanwhile, genes that are far apart on a chromosome have a higher chance of being separated during the crossing over process in meiosis, leading to a higher recombination frequency. Thus, geneticists have used the proportion of nonparental gametes, or recombination frequency, to map the relative positions of genes on chromosomes. This forms the basis of genetic mapping.