Sex Linked Inheritance
The Xs and Ys of Genetics
Sex Chromosomes
• There are 23 pairs of
chromosomes and
one of those pairs are
known as the sex
chromosomes.
• There are either X
chromosomes or Y
chromosomes.
Sex inheritance patterns for male
and female children
X Chromosome
• Women have two X
chromosomes
• Men have one X
chromosome
• Both men and women
can inherit X-linked
traits.
Y Chromosome
• Men have one Y
chromosome.
• Women do not have a
Y chromosome.
• Only men can inherit
Y-linked traits.
Sex Linked Genes
• These • Genes that are
chromosomes carried by either
carry genes that sex chromosome
determine some (X or Y) are said
male and female to be:
traits, but also SEX- LINKED
those for other GENES
characteristics as
well.
X-Linked Genes
• Women can be homozygous
dominant, heterozygous or
homozygous recessive for an
X-linked trait.
X-Linked Genes
• Men are either dominant or
recessive. There is no
heterozygous option.
• Men can only inherit these
genes from their mother.
• Men have a greater chance
of expressing X-linked
recessive genes than
women.
Recessive X-linked Traits
• In humans, at least 120
genes are known to be
X-linked.
• Recessive genes
include: hemophilia, red-
green color blindness,
congenital night
blindness, and Duchene
muscular dystrophy
Hemophilia
• Can not clot their
blood
• Severe bleeding from
minor cuts
Red-Green Color Blindness
• Cannot perceive or distinguish
red and green.
Muscular Dystrophy
• Characterized by a gradual deterioration of
skeletal muscle.
• Begins to weaken the legs of boys by age
3 and gets worse every year.
Y-linked Traits
• The Y chromosome is small and therefore
does not contain many genes.
• Y linked diseases are very rare.
• Only passed from father to son.
• Example: Male infertility
Hypertrichosis Pinnae.
• Hairy Ear Syndrome