Strength and Distance: The Proportionality in Gene Linkage

By:

Gilliane Nicole Alarcon

Sean Miguel Lacson

9-Sampaguita
 Introduction

- We covered numerous topics in our previous quarter, including graphing parabolas,

algebraic expressions, and quadratic equations. This second quarter, we discussed a
brand-new, fascinating concept in mathematics. Variations. We can find numerous
variations in disciplines like science, genetics, acceleration and distance, and many more.
Some examples in daily life include; the cost of your fare varies directly as the distance
traveled, and the price of vegetables in the market is directly proportional to their weight,
etc. In our previous lessons, we tackled four variations in mathematics. In our research,
we will mostly elucidate only one. The Direct Variation

What are Direct Variations?

- Direct variation is a type of proportionality wherein one quantity directly varies to a

change in another. To easily denote whether a relationship between two quantities is
directly proportional, find keywords such as “varies directly to”; For example, y varies
directly to x (y=kx), where k represents the constant of variation. The ratio between both
values (in this example, y and x) is always constant.

Defining Genetic Linkage and Recombination of Genes

- In Linkage, two or more genes linked together are always inherited together in the same
combination for more than two generations. Whereas in recombination, the genetic
material is exchanged between different organisms which cause the production of
offspring with the combination of traits. The chromosomal theory of inheritance came
into existence long after Mendelian genetics. The lack of advanced technology and
physical proof were two reasons for the rejection of Mendel’s concept of genetics.
However, later experiments confirmed Mendel’s results. On the other hand,
recombination is a process by which pieces of DNA are broken and recombined to
produce new combinations of alleles. This recombination process creates genetic
diversity at the level of genes that reflects differences in the DNA sequences of different
organisms.

1
Importance of Linkage in Genetics

- Primarily, genetic linkage analysis has a massive impact on detecting diseases.

(chromosomal locations of the disease genes)
- As soon as a chromosomal location for a disease phenotype has been established, genetic
linkage analysis helps determine whether the disease phenotype is only caused by a
mutation in a single gene or whether mutations in other genes can give rise to an identical
or similar phenotype.

The connection between Variations and Linkage

- Forthrightly, in linkage and genes, there are two kinds of variations. Inverse variation
(y=k/x) between linkage and the genes; direct variation ( y=kx) between the strength of
the linkage and recombination of genes. However, we will only further explain the
connection of direct variation.
- Crossing over during “meiosis” a special form of cell division allows the recombination
of genes between homologous chromosomes; this changes the linkage between genes on
the same chromosome. This is where the direct variation comes into play; the strength of
the linkage is directly proportional to the recombination of genes. This statement explains
that the closer two genes are to one another on a chromosome, the greater their chances
are of being inherited together or linked. On the contrary, genes located farther apart from
one another on the same chromosome are more likely to be separated during
recombination, the process that recombines DNA during meiosis.

Sources:
https://www.cuemath.com/commercial-math/direct-variation/

https://www.nature.com/scitable/definition/linkage-51/

https://byjus.com/biology/linkage-recombination/#:~:text=In%20linkage%2C%20two%20or%20mo
re,with%20the%20combination%20of%20traits.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/775035#:~:text=Genetic%20linkage%
20analysis%20is%20a,chromosome%20remain%20linked%20during%20meiosis.