Sex-Linked
Inheritance
Part 3 Genetics
Sex Linkage
Sex linkage is when a given
trait is on a sex
chromosome.
Y-Linked
There are few Y-linked
traits and several X-linked
traits. Y-linked traits
affect males only and are
always expressed.
X-Linked
X-linked traits are
always expressed in
the male because
they only have 1 X
chromosome.
Females with one
affected X chromosome
are silent carriers for the
recessive trait.
HEMOPHILIA
and
RED-GREEN COLOR
BLINDNESS
Hemophilia in humans
is due to an X-
chromosome
mutation.
What will be the
results of mating
between a normal
male and a carrier
female?
Setting up the problem
Problem
• What will be the results of
mating between a normal
(non-carrier) female and a
hemophiliac male?
Genotypes and phenotypes of
parents
• The eggs of the
mother will all
contain the normal X
chromosome.
• The sperm of the
father will contain
either the X
chromosome with
the mutation causing
hemophilia or the Y
chromosome.
Genotypes and phenotypes of
offspring
• All of the daughters
inherit an X
chromosome with
the mutation from
their father, and will
be carriers.
• All the sons inherit a
normal X from the
mother.
Problem
A human female
"carrier" who is
heterozygous for the
recessive, sex-linked
trait causing red-green
color blindness marries
a normal male. What
proportion of their male
progeny will have red-
green color blindness.
A female "carrier" who is heterozygous for the recessive, sex-
linked trait causing red-green color blindness marries a normal
male. What proportion of their male progeny will have red-
green color blindness.
Genotypes and phenotypes of parents
• The eggs of the
mother will contain
either a normal X
chromosome or an X
chromosome with the
mutation causing red-
green color blindness.
• The sperm of the
father will contain
either the normal X
chromosome or the Y
chromosome.
Genotypes and phenotypes of
offspring
• None of the female
children would be
red-green color
blind, but half
would be "carriers."
• Half of the sons
would inherit the
allele from their
mother and be
afflicted.
Offspring of human females who are
carriers for X-linked traits
PROBLEM:
A human female "carrier" who is
heterozygous for the recessive, sex-linked
trait red color blindness, marries a normal
male.
What proportion of their female progeny
will show the trait?
NONE
Half the sons would be
expected to inherit the
color blindness allele from
their mother. Half the
daughters would be
carriers like their mothers.
PROBLEM:
A human female "carrier" who is
heterozygous for the recessive, sex-linked
trait red color blindness, marries a color
blind male.
What proportion of their male progeny will
show the trait?
ONE
Women have sex chromosomes
of XX, and men have sex
chromosomes of XY.
Which of a man's grandparents
could not be the source of any
of the genes on his Y-
chromosome?
- Mother's Mother
- Mother's Father
- Father's Mother
The Y chromosome is
inherited solely from
father to son in each
generation.
