linkage group: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “linkage group” mean?
A set of genes located on the same chromosome that tend to be inherited together.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A set of genes located on the same chromosome that tend to be inherited together.
In genetics, a group of genes whose alleles are inherited together because they are physically close on the same chromosome, reducing the chance of independent assortment. Conceptually extended to other fields to mean any group of closely associated or interdependent items.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or definitional differences. Usage is identical in scientific contexts.
Connotations
Purely technical and neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low and specialized in both UK and US English, confined to genetics textbooks, research papers, and related discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “linkage group” in a Sentence
The [gene/trait/locus] is part of a linkage group.Researchers mapped the [species] linkage group.Linkage group [number/roman numeral] contains...These alleles belong to the same linkage group.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “linkage group” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used almost exclusively in genetics, biology, and agricultural science courses and literature.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in genetics for describing the physical grouping of genes on a chromosome and their co-inheritance.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “linkage group”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “linkage group”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “linkage group”
- Using 'linkage group' to mean any group with links (e.g., a business network).
- Confusing it with 'linkage disequilibrium' (a related but population-genetics concept).
- Misspelling as 'linkege group'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A linkage group refers to all the genes on a single chromosome *that can be mapped* via linkage analysis. In a simple case (e.g., no recombination), a linkage group corresponds to one chromosome, but technically it's the set of linked genes.
Only in highly metaphorical or pedagogical extensions (e.g., 'these historical events form a linkage group'). Its primary and almost exclusive meaning is genetic.
'Linkage group' is a classical genetics concept based on inheritance patterns. 'Synteny' is a genomic concept referring to the physical co-localisation of genetic loci on the same chromosome, often conserved between species. They are related but not identical.
Typically, an organism has as many linkage groups as it has pairs of homologous chromosomes. For example, humans have 23 linkage groups (22 autosomes + X or Y).
A set of genes located on the same chromosome that tend to be inherited together.
Linkage group is usually technical/scientific in register.
Linkage group: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɪŋkɪdʒ ɡruːp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɪŋkɪdʒ ɡrup/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LINKAGE GROUP as a group of friends (genes) LINKED together on the same bus route (chromosome); they travel together and arrive at the destination (offspring) as a group.
Conceptual Metaphor
GENES ARE PASSENGERS ON A VEHICLE (CHROMOSOME); INHERITANCE IS A JOURNEY.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'linkage group'?