Final answer:
Interference is a genetic phenomenon where a crossover in one chromosome region affects the likelihood of a crossover in an adjacent region. It helps in understanding genetic diversity and mapping traits, with positive interference implying reduced crossover likelihood nearby.
Step-by-step explanation:
The interference in genetic terms refers to the phenomenon where the occurrence of a crossover in one region of a chromosome can affect the probability of a crossover occurring in an adjacent region. It is a measure of the non-independence of crossovers and is important for understanding the genetic diversity and mapping traits within populations.
If interference is positive, it means that one crossover reduces the likelihood of another occurring nearby, which can affect genetic linkage and the ability to map genes. If interference is negative, crossovers may happen more frequently than expected, suggesting a hotspot for genetic recombination.
However, in many cases, positive interference is observed, indicating that crossovers tend to be more evenly spaced than if they occurred by chance alone.