Practice question

Recombination frequency quantifies proportion of recombinant gametes generated by crossing over between homologous chromosomes during meiosis. Maximum fifty percent occurs when loci unlinked yielding equal parental and recombinant classes in progeny because random chromatid segregation and occasional multiple exchanges equalise combinations. Frequency cannot exceed fifty percent even with many crossovers because each meiosis with single crossover involves only two chromatids and chromatid sampling remains random. This ceiling distinguishes unlinked loci from linked loci where recombinants remain minority below fifty percent threshold in test crosses.