Final answer:
Crossing over is the mechanism that breaks the linkage between linked genes, allowing for genetic recombination and the independent assortment of these genes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mechanism that "breaks" the linkage between linked genes is C) Crossing over. Linked genes are genes that are located close to each other on the same chromosome, and they tend to be inherited together during meiosis because they are physically connected. However, the process of crossing over, which occurs during prophase I of meiosis, can exchange genetic material between homologous chromosomes. This can result in the recombination of genes that were previously linked, effectively breaking the linkage and allowing the genes to assort independently. This increases genetic diversity in the offspring. Therefore, the answer here is that crossing over is the process through which the linkage between genes can be "broken."