Final answer:
Recombination frequency helps in predicting the genetic distance and constructing chromosome maps, with higher recombination indicating greater distances between genes. Centimorgans, derived from recombination frequencies, serve as the unit of measure in these maps.
Step-by-step explanation:
By determining the recombination frequency, one could develop a better understanding of genetic linkage and the physical distance between genes on a chromosome. This is possible because recombination frequency helps predict genetic distance. For example, genes that are 17 centimorgans (cM) apart have a recombination frequency of 17 percent, meaning there is a 17 percent chance that crossing over will occur between these genes during meiosis, leading to offspring with recombinant phenotypes.
The method of using recombination frequencies to create genetic maps was proposed by Alfred Sturtevant. He suggested that recombinations occur with equal likelihood anywhere along the length of a chromosome and that more crossovers between two linked genes imply a greater distance between them. Hence, geneticists can construct detailed chromosome maps elaborating on the order and distance of genes.
It's important to note that a predicted frequency of recombinant offspring could be as high as 60% if the genes in question are located very far from each other on the chromosome or are on different chromosomes. Sturtevant divided the genetic map into units named after Thomas Hunt Morgan, called centimorgans, where a recombination frequency of 0.01 corresponds to 1 cM.