Sex-linked inheritance
– Y chromosome – much smaller and contains SRY gene (development of testes) not homologous- X chromosomes – necessary for development b/c X has many genes that encode for non-sex related traits
Sex-linked inheritance is a pattern of inheritance where the genes that control certain traits are located on the sex chromosomes – X and Y chromosomes. Sex-linked traits are traits that are coded by these genes and are passed on to offspring according to specific patterns.
In humans, the X chromosome is larger and carries more genes than the Y chromosome. Females have two X chromosomes (XX) while males have one X and one Y chromosome (XY). Therefore, males only inherit one copy of each gene located on the X chromosome, while females inherit two copies of each gene on the X chromosome.
The most common example of sex-linked inheritance is color blindness, which is more common in males than in females. This is because the gene responsible for color blindness is located on the X chromosome, and males only inherit one X chromosome from their mother. If the X chromosome they inherit from their mother carries the gene for color blindness, they will develop the condition. Females, on the other hand, are less likely to develop color blindness because they have two X chromosomes and can inherit a dominant gene for normal vision on one X chromosome, which will mask the recessive gene on the other X chromosome.
Another example of sex-linked inheritance is hemophilia, an inherited bleeding disorder that affects the blood’s clotting ability. Hemophilia is caused by gene mutations on the X chromosome and is more common in males than in females. Females can carry the gene mutation but are less likely to develop the disease because they have a backup X chromosome with the normal gene.
In conclusion, sex-linked inheritance is the inheritance pattern of genes that are located on the sex chromosomes. This type of inheritance is responsible for many inherited conditions, with color blindness and hemophilia being two of the most well-known examples. The inheritance pattern of sex-linked traits depends on the sex of the parent and the sex of the offspring, with males being more likely to show sex-linked disorders due to their one X chromosome.
More Answers:
Theory of Evolution and Natural Selection: Evidence, Implications, and ApplicationsLinkage: How Geneticists Determine the Inheritance of Two Different Genes on the Same Chromosome
Unlocking Genetic Diversity: A Look at the Importance and Process of Homologous Recombination in Evolution