Genetic linkage is the tendency for genes located near each other on the same chromosome to be inherited together during meiosis. This phenomenon is due to the physical proximity of genes on a chromosome, which leads to them being transmitted as a unit, rather than independently. Genetic linkage is an important concept in genetics, as it can be used to map the location of genes on chromosomes and understand the inheritance patterns of certain traits. By analyzing the frequency of recombination events between linked genes, researchers can determine the distance between them and create genetic maps. This information is valuable for studying the genetics of various organisms and understanding the underlying mechanisms of inheritance.