| Linkage | Crossing over |
| 1. Linkage keeps the genes of a chromosome together | 1. Crossing over separates the genes of a chromosome, forming new recombinations |
| 2. Linkage strength increases due to closeness of genes | 2. Frequency of crossing over decreases between nearby genes |
| 3. It maintains the parental characters in the offsprings | 3. It changes the parental characters in the offsprings |
| 4. Linkage prevents the formation of new varieties of organisms by geneticists | 4. It helps in the formation of new varieties of organisms by geneticists |
