Final answer:
The percentage of recombination approximating 50% is true when considering independent assortment, as it signifies that genes are unlinked and segregate independently, following Mendel's principles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the percentage of recombination associated with independent assortment should approximate 50% is true. Independent assortment occurs when genes are located on different chromosomes or so far apart on the same chromosome that they are essentially unlinked. This situation reflects Mendelian principles where each allele combination is equally likely, hence, a recombination frequency of 0.5 signifies that 50% of offspring are recombinants and the remaining are parental types. When two genes are perfectly linked, with a recombination frequency of 0, they do not independently assort according to Mendel’s laws. However, genes located on the same chromosome can have recombination frequencies varying between 0% and 50%, depending on how close they are to each other. A recombination frequency higher than 50% typically indicates that the genes are located on separate chromosomes.