Final answer:
Mendel did not find linkage because the traits he studied were either on separate chromosomes or sufficiently far apart on the same chromosome. His success in observing independent assortment was due to his selection of statistically unlinked traits. The concepts of chromosomes and linkage were not known at the time of his studies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why Mendel Did Not Find Linkage in His Studies
Gregor Mendel did not find linkage in his genetic studies because the genes for the seven pea plant traits he chose to examine either resided on separate chromosomes or were located far apart on the same chromosome, making them statistically unlinked. At the time, Mendel was unaware of the concept of chromosomes or genetic linkage, as these ideas had not yet been developed. The absence of linkage in Mendel's experiments allowed him to observe what is now known as the law of independent assortment, where genes for different traits are passed on independently of one another during reproduction.
It was later proven by researchers that Mendel's chosen traits were indeed on different chromosomes or sufficiently separated on the same chromosome to behave as if they were unlinked. This is partly why Mendel consistently observed independent assortment in his experiments. If Mendel had chosen traits governed by genes on the same chromosome that were closely linked, his findings might have differed, potentially complicating his ability to deduce his laws of inheritance.
The phenomenon known as homologous recombination, whereby linked genes can become unlinked during meiosis, could also provide an explanation as to why Mendel did not observe linkage, despite the garden pea having more traits than chromosomes. However, the traits Mendel selected were already so far apart or on separate chromosomes that recombination would not have significantly altered their inheritance patterns to show linkage.