Question: Who first observed the phenomenon of linkage? (RAU BIKANER & UDAIPUR 2013)
Options:
Morgan
Watson
Bateson & Punnett
Mendel
✅Explanation:William Bateson and Reginald Punnett, while studying the inheritance of traits in sweet peas, first observed that certain traits tended to be inherited together more often than expected by chance. They coined the term linkage to describe this phenomenon, which is caused by genes located close together on the same chromosome.
📌Other Options Explanations:
-(a) Morgan: Thomas Hunt Morgan further elaborated on the concept of linkage and its relationship to chromosomes through his work on fruit flies.
-(b) Watson: James Watson, along with Francis Crick, is known for discovering the double-helical structure of DNA.
-(d) Mendel: Gregor Mendel is considered the father of genetics, known for his work on garden peas.