What is coefficient of coincidence?

The coefficient of coincidence is a measure used in genetics to quantify the degree of statistical association between two genetic events, such as the occurrence of two crossover events during meiosis. It is calculated by dividing the observed frequency of double crossovers by the expected frequency of double crossovers.

A coefficient of coincidence value close to 1 indicates a high degree of coincidence between the two genetic events, while a value close to 0 indicates that the events are occurring independently of each other. The coefficient of coincidence is a useful tool for studying genetic linkage and recombination in organisms.

The coefficient of coincidence can be used to calculate the recombination frequency (RF) between two genes on a chromosome. The formula for calculating RF is RF = (# of recombinant offspring / total # of offspring) x 100. By comparing the RF with the coefficient of coincidence, geneticists can gain insight into the physical distance between genes on a chromosome and the frequency of recombination events between them.