What inheritance pattern describes genes being inherited together?

The inheritance pattern that describes genes being inherited together is linkage. This occurs when genes are located close to each other on the same chromosome, which reduces the likelihood of them being separated during meiosis. Because linked genes do not assort independently, they tend to be passed on as a set to offspring rather than assorting randomly as independent traits would. This is in contrast to independent assortment, which refers to the random distribution of genes located on different chromosomes during gamete formation, allowing for a combination of traits. Understanding linkage is crucial, especially in genetic mapping, since it provides insights into gene relationships and the potential for certain traits to be inherited together.