loose linkage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "loose linkage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a weak or not tightly connected relationship between two or more elements, such as ideas, concepts, or systems. Example: "The study revealed a loose linkage between economic growth and environmental sustainability, suggesting that improvements in one area do not necessarily lead to benefits in the other."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Interestingly, qMel-3 and qCol-3 showed loose linkage suggesting a possibility of combining two QTLs via marker-assisted selection.

Rice

Although some loose linkage was observed between markers at the ends of different linkage groups, we did not merge these linkage groups because the loose linkage between markers might have occurred by chance alone.

BMC Plant Biology

Loose linkage of a small fraction of markers should not seriously bias multi-locus likelihood calculations (Meagher, 1991).

Bioinformatics

Many disease resistance-markers previously developed for common bean are not ideal for MAS (e.g., dominant, loose linkage, market class-specific).

BMC Genomics

To first order in r−1, i.e., for loose linkage, Petry's m e (P ) is equal to our m ˜ e in Equation 20.

Genetics

Additional markers located throughout the genome were therefore tested, and loose linkage of a putative modifier locus to marker NGA139 was detected on chromosome 5 (Table S4).

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Cultural ecosystem services (CES) provided by urban parks are complex phenomena and the diversity of user perspectives and their rather loose linkages to the objective and structural diversity of parks hamper informed planning.

Urban Forestry & Urban Greening

The collapse prevention system consists of a collapse inhibiting mechanism, such as a pair of slack cables or loose linkages, working in tandem with the main lateral-force resisting system and engaging the gravity framing to avert collapse.

Journal of Constructional Steel Research

Because of the loose linkages between core processes (e.g., as facilitated by the modular construction of the modern cell), organisms have a great deal of phenotypic plasticity.

Plosone

A definition of integrated working was provided to respondents (close collaboration between….your care home and the NHS), but this did not provide sufficient information to enable care home managers to distinguish between loose linkages, coordinated care and formal collaborative arrangements, or to relate sufficiently to the concept of integration.

BMC Geriatrics

A human Btk gene (ITK) has a tight linkage to the ParaHox cluster at 5q31, and two further pairs of paralogues (TEC, TXK, and BMX, BTK) show looser linkage to the cluster on chromosome 4 and X.

BMC Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing statistical or genetic relationships, clearly define the parameters of the "loose linkage". Specify the confidence intervals or the recombination frequency to provide a quantifiable measure of the relationship's strength.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "loose linkage" implies complete independence. While the connection is weak, it still suggests a possible, albeit less reliable, association. Instead, carefully assess the importance of that connection in your analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "loose linkage" functions as a descriptive term, often acting as an adjective-noun combination, to qualify the strength of the relationship between two or more entities. Ludwig examples show it describing relationships between genetic markers, concepts, or elements within a system. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "loose linkage" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed term, predominantly within scientific and technical fields, to denote a connection or association that is not strong or direct. Ludwig's analysis, confirmed by Ludwig AI, indicates its correct usage and applicability across various contexts, particularly in genetics and systems analysis. When employing the term, be aware of its implications regarding the reliability of the relationship and provide appropriate qualifications. Alternative phrasing options include "weak association" or "tenuous connection" to ensure accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weak association

Emphasizes the tenuous nature of the relationship between elements.

tenuous connection

Highlights the fragility and lack of strong support in the relationship.

indirect relationship

Suggests the connection is not straightforward or immediately apparent.

slight correlation

Indicates a minimal statistical relationship between variables.

peripheral connection

Implies the link is on the outer edges and not centrally important.

remote association

Highlights the distance or separation between the related items.

unchained coupling

Describes a system where components interact without strict dependencies.

casual link

Indicates the relationship is informal and not necessarily consistent.

flexible interaction

Refers to components that interact freely and adaptively.

disconnected nexus

Suggests that the related items are not actively in contact and are loosely gathered.

FAQs

What does "loose linkage" mean in genetics?

In genetics, "loose linkage" refers to genes or markers that are located relatively far apart on a chromosome. This means they have a higher probability of being separated during meiosis due to recombination, resulting in a weaker association compared to tightly linked genes.

How does "loose linkage" affect marker-assisted selection?

In marker-assisted selection (MAS), "loose linkage" between a marker and a target gene can reduce the effectiveness of the selection process. This is because the marker's presence is less reliable in predicting the presence of the desired gene due to the higher chance of recombination.

What are some alternatives to saying "loose linkage"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "weak association", "tenuous connection", or "indirect relationship" to convey a similar meaning to "loose linkage".

How is "loose linkage" different from "linkage disequilibrium"?

"Loose linkage" refers to the physical distance between genes on a chromosome, affecting recombination frequency. "Linkage disequilibrium" is a population genetics concept describing the non-random association of alleles at different loci, which can be influenced by factors beyond physical proximity.