What does the term 'linkage phase' refer to in genetics?

The term 'linkage phase' refers to the arrangement of alleles on each chromosome. In genetics, linkage phase describes how alleles at different loci on the same chromosome are oriented relative to each other. For instance, if two alleles are on the same chromosome, they can be either in a cis configuration (both dominant or both recessive alleles are on the same chromosome) or in a trans configuration (one dominant and one recessive allele on the same chromosome). Understanding the linkage phase is crucial for predicting inheritance patterns and for mapping genes in genetic studies since it informs how traits may be inherited together based on their physical proximity on a chromosome and their respective orientations.

The other options do not accurately reflect the concept of linkage phase; they focus on different aspects of genetics, such as the separation of alleles during meiosis or the influence of gene location on expression, rather than the specific configuration of alleles on a chromosome.