Class 17: Sex Chromosomes and Sex Linkage
Learning objectives:
•Describe the importance of sex chromosomes and how they
are different from autosomes
•Describe chromosomal sex determination
•Diagram the segregation of sex chromosomes during meiosis
We will use Drosophila and Humans as examples
Up until now, we’ve only thought about “autosomal”
chromosomes.
What about “sex” chromosomes?
In mammals, which of the following is true?
A) Sperm and egg cells are the only cells that contain sex chromosomes
B) Somatic cells contain only autosomes
C) All cells contain both sex chromosomes and autosomes
D) A and B
In organisms with two different sex chromosomes
A) the one with two of the same chromosome is always female
B) the one with two different chromosomes is always female
C) one of the sex chromosomes is required for sex
determination and the other is not
D) all of the above are possible
Different kinds of sex determination
Chromosomal
-homogametic: two of the same sex chromosome
birds ZZ=male, mammals XX=female
-heterogametic: two different sex chromosomes
birds ZW= female, mammals XY=male
-dosage (of the X)
some invertebrates
Non chromosomal: Environmental; scattered genes (not on a
designated chromosome)
We’ll focus on XY/XX Sex chromosomes
T. H. Morgan, Nobel Prize 1933:
Eye color in Drosophila melanogaster: red and white
Based on this experiment,
which trait is dominant?
A) Red
B) White
If you now cross the F1 generation,
What ratio would you expect in the F2 generation?
A) All red
B) 1 red: 1 white
C) 3 red: 1 white
D) All white
We’ll focus on XY/XX Sex chromosomes
T. H. Morgan, Nobel Prize 1933:
Eye color in Drosophila melanogaster: red and white
What was unusual about this cross?
The white eyed files were always male.
F2
Hypothesis:
Genes that determine sex and eye color are “linked” (on the same
chromosome).
sex eye color
X+ = red
XX = female X- = white
XY = male
Allele designations
Wild type X+ XW Xw+ X
White X- Xw Xw-
X+X+ X+X- X- X- X+Y X- Y
Group Activity Question 1
Write the genotype of each fly.
Then, draw the Punnett square for the F2 generation
P X
F1 all
F2 3 :1
Question 2: Now cross a white eyed male with a heterozygous wt female.
Draw the Punnett Square.
Heterozygous X white
What is the ratio of offspring from this cross?
A) 3 red females: 1 white male
B) All red
C) 1 red female: 1 white female: 1 red male: 1 white male
D) 1 red female: 1 white female: 1 red male
E) None of these
White X Red
If you cross a white eyed female to a red eyed male, the progeny
should consist of
A) All males are white eyed; all females are red eyed
B) All 4 possibilities in 1:1:1:1 ratio
C) Only red eyed flies, with males and females in equal number
D) Only white eyed flies, with males and females in equal number
In mammals, the Y chromosome determines male sex
Absence of the Y = female
X Y
Actual size comparison of X and Y chromosomes
-The X and Y chromosomes contain
completely different genes
X chromosome
about 1400 genes
about Y chromosome
80 about 75 genes
genes
X and Y chromosomes pair due to homology at tips
Sex chromosomes during metaphase of mitosis and meiosis: remember,
X and Y are considered homologs!
a
A
X
Y
Diploid Cell After DNA Replication
With your group,
Draw mitosis and the daughter cells
Draw meiosis I, meiosis II, and gametes (next
slide)
Metaphase of Mitosis
Metaphase of Meiosis I
Metaphase of
Meiosis II
Haploid gametes
Complete today’s group activity. Color blind mutations are inherited in X-linked recessive manner.
X-linked Dominant Traits
Only one copy of a mutant allele is required for females to show the phenotype.
Affected males give the mutant allele to all of their daughters but not to their sons.
Affected females give the mutant allele to 50% of their children (regardless of sex).
Affected Male Affected female
XM Y X Y
X XXM XY XM XXM XM Y
XXM XY XX XY
X X
A woman, Gerry, has X-linked dominant Alport
Syndrome. Her father does not have the disorder. She
plans to have children with a man, Jerry, that also has
Alport syndrome. What is the probability that their
first child will be a boy that has Alport syndrome?
A) 0
B) 0.25
C) 0.5
D) 0.75
E) 1
Losing or gaining an autosome is a bad thing for humans (more in
class 22)
Trisomy 21 survive (Down’s syndrome)
Trisomy X: normal
all other trisomies are fatal
Monosomy of all autosomes fatal
Monosomy X ok
How can both male and female mammals undergo normal development when
they have different numbers of X chromosomes?
A) The X chromosome is only used for female development
B) Both males and females only need one copy of most X chromosome
genes.
C) Males and females activate expression of different genes on the X
chromosome
D) Males and females have different genes on their X chromosomes.
More on this later in the course