Sex linked gene
A sex-linked gene is a gene located on a sex chromosome, which are the chromosomes that determine the sex of an individual
A sex-linked gene is a gene located on a sex chromosome, which are the chromosomes that determine the sex of an individual. In humans, females have two X chromosomes (XX) and males have one X and one Y chromosome (XY). The majority of sex-linked genes are found on the X chromosome, with very few on the Y chromosome.
Because males have only one X chromosome, any gene on that chromosome will be expressed, whether the allele is dominant or recessive. This means that if a male inherits a recessive allele on the X chromosome, he will express the trait associated with that allele.
In females, because they have two X chromosomes, their genetic expression is more complex. Generally, only one of the two X chromosomes is active in each cell. The process of X chromosome inactivation occurs randomly during early development, resulting in one deactivated X chromosome in each cell. As a result, females are considered mosaics with different cells expressing different X chromosomes. However, certain genes can escape X chromosome inactivation, resulting in both X chromosomes being active for those specific genes.
Examples of sex-linked disorders or traits include color blindness, hemophilia, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. These conditions are more commonly seen in males because they only need to inherit one recessive allele from their mother, whereas females would need to inherit two recessive alleles (one from each parent) to express the trait.
In summary, a sex-linked gene is a gene located on a sex chromosome, predominantly the X chromosome. The expression of these genes differs between males and females due to the different number and inactivation of X chromosomes in each sex. Understanding sex-linked inheritance is important in comprehending the inheritance patterns and prevalence of certain genetic disorders or traits.
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