Final answer:
Gene proximity on a chromosome impacts crossover events during meiosis, with closeness reducing and distance increasing the likelihood of recombinant genotypes, aiding in the construction of genetic maps.
Step-by-step explanation:
The proximity of genes on a chromosome affects the likelihood of crossovers during meiosis. The closer genes are to each other, the less likely a double crossover event will occur and the higher the interference, reducing the occurrence of recombinant genotypes.
Conversely, the farther genes are from each other, the more likely a double crossover event will happen, which increases the chance for recombination and variations in offspring.
Geneticists study this phenomenon to create genetic maps that show the relative positions of genes on chromosomes. Understanding the frequency of crossovers between different genes allows scientists to deduce how far apart those genes are, enriching our understanding of genetics and inheritance.