Sex-Linked Inheritance

Place your keyboard aside. You will navigate with the mouse.
Start from
beginning

Chromosomes
& Karyotypes

Sex-linked
Inheritance

The Guzman
Family

The Jackson
Family

The Chang
Family
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Gregor Mendel HOME

Mendel discovered the basic patterns of

heredity in the 1800s when he was breeding
pea plants.
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Gregor Mendel HOME

Mendel discovered the basic patterns of

heredity in the 1800s when he was breeding
pea plants.
Remember that purple flowers were
dominant to white flowers.

DOMINANT

recessive
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Gregor Mendel HOME

Mendel discovered the basic patterns of

heredity in the 1800s when he was breeding
pea goes
Which genotype plants.
Remember that purple Which
inside this square? flowers were goes
genotype

X X
inside this square?
dominant to white flowers.
PP PCross
Pp p
homozygous XX
p pa heterozygous purple flower
PP P
recessive white flower.
with a
Which
p
goes inside
p
p
genotype

this square?
Which genotype goes
inside this square?
X
PP
X
PP Pp p X
p
Pp p
p
PXp
Pp p p
pp p p
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Gregor Mendel HOME

Mendel discovered the basic patterns of heredity

in the 1800s when he was breeding pea plants.
Remember that purple flowers were dominant to
white flowers.
Cross a heterozygous purple flower with a
homozygous recessive white flower.
What is the probability of growing purple
flowered plants?
0%
P p
25%
p Pp p 50%
correct p 75%
p Pp p 100%
p
BACK
Gregor Mendel HOME

Mendel discovered the basic patterns of heredity

in the 1800s when he was breeding pea plants.
Remember that purple flowers were dominant to
white flowers.
Cross a heterozygous purple flower with a
homozygous recessive white flower.
What is the probability of growing homozygous
dominant plants?
0%
P p
25%
p Pp p 50%
correct p 75%
p Pp p 100%
p
 BACK
Gregor Mendel HOME

Mendel published his work Correct. My work cannot

Limitations?
in 1866. Even though his predict offspring
What gender.
But my work was the
limitations?
work is still very useful, it foundation for others.
does have some limitations.
Since 1866, scientists have
been busy!

As great as Mendel's work

was, can we determine the
gender of an individual using
Mendel's work?

No
XYes
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Chromosomes and Karyotypes HOME

This karyotype
shows a girl. Let
me teach you
how.

In humans, there are 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 total). Karyotypes show an

individual's chromosomes. The final pair of chromosomes allows us to
determine the sex of the individual. Click on the karyotype above to reveal the
sex of the individual used to create this karyotype.
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Chromosomes and Karyotypes HOME

So how do we know which is a female or male karyotype? Find chromosome pair #23. Like any
pair of chromosomes, #23 comes in pairs (one from each parent). If the two chromosomes are
equal sized, the individual has the XX chromosome combination and would be female.
If the two chromosomes of #23 are different sized, the individual has the XY chromosome
combination and would be male.
Click on the female sex chromosomes in the above karyotype.
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Chromosomes and Karyotypes HOME

correct

Click on the male karyotype.

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Sex Determination HOME

XX XY

XX XY
XX XY
Knowing that mom has the XX combination and dad has the XY
combination, can we determine the probability of this couple having a
boy or girl? Use the sex chromosomes (as a genotype) and fill in the
Punnett square just like you would perform a genetics problem.
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Sex Determination HOME

X Y
X XX XY correct

X XX XY
What is the probability of the child being born as a boy?

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

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Sex-Linked Inheritance HOME

Some traits and genes are found on

the X or Y chromosome. These traits
are called sex-linked. This means that
not only can we predict whether or
not a person will be healthy, but we
also can predict whether the
individual will be a boy or girl.
Y chromosome

X chromosome
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Sex-Linked Inheritance HOME

Some traits and genes are found on

the X or Y chromosome. These traits
are called sex-linked. This means that
not only can we predict whether or
not a person will be healthy, but we
also can predict whether the
individual will be a boy or girl.

Examples of sex-linked traits are:

Hemophilia, Here is a normal vein.
Click the vein to continue.
 BACK
Sex-Linked Inheritance HOME

Some traits and genes are found on

the X or Y chromosome. These traits
are called sex-linked. This means that
not only can we predict whether or
not a person will be healthy, but we
also can predict whether the
individual will be a boy or girl.

Examples of sex-linked traits are: When cut, bleeding can occur.

Hemophilia, Click the vein to continue.
 BACK
Sex-Linked Inheritance HOME

Some traits and genes are found on

the X or Y chromosome. These traits
are called sex-linked. This means that
not only can we predict whether or
not a person will be healthy, but we
also can predict whether the
individual will be a boy or girl.

Examples of sex-linked traits are: A blood clot forms to stop the bleeding.
Click the vein to continue.
Hemophilia,
 BACK
Sex-Linked Inheritance HOME

Some traits and genes are found on

the X or Y chromosome. These traits
are called sex-linked. This means that
not only can we predict whether or
not a person will be healthy, but we
also can predict whether the
In hemophilia however, the clot is very
individual will be a boy or girl. weak and doesn’t stop the bleeding.
This disease is caused by a recessive
gene on the X chromosome.
Examples of sex-linked traits are:
Hemophilia, Click the vein to continue.
 BACK
Sex-Linked Inheritance HOME

Some traits and genes are found on

the X or Y chromosome. These traits
are called sex-linked. This means that
not only can we predict whether or
not a person will be healthy, but we
Here is a rainbow flag as seen by most
also can predict whether the people with normal vision.
individual will be a boy or girl.
Click the flag to continue.

Examples of sex-linked traits are:

Hemophilia,

colorblindness,
 BACK
Sex-Linked Inheritance HOME

Some traits and genes are found on

the X or Y chromosome. These traits
are called sex-linked. This means that
not only can we predict whether or
not a person will be healthy, but we
Here is the same flag as seen by many
also can predict whether the people who are color blind.
individual will be a boy or girl.
Click the flag to continue.

Examples of sex-linked traits are:

Hemophilia,

colorblindness,
 BACK
Sex-Linked Inheritance HOME

Some traits and genes are found on

the X or Y chromosome. These traits
are called sex-linked. This means that Over time, the muscles begin to
weaken and slowly waste away.
not only can we predict whether or
not a person will be healthy, but we Click the weaker bicep muscle to
also can predict whether the continue.
individual will be a boy or girl.

Examples of sex-linked traits are:

Hemophilia,

colorblindness,

and muscular dystrophy.

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Sex-Linked Inheritance HOME

Some traits and genes are found on

the X or Y chromosome. These traits
are called sex-linked. This means that As the muscles weaken, often the
sufferer becomes wheelchair bound
not only can we predict whether or for the rest of their life. Average life
not a person will be healthy, but we span is only about 25 years.
also can predict whether the
individual will be a boy or girl.

Examples of sex-linked traits are:

Hemophilia,

colorblindness,

and muscular dystrophy.

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Sex-Linked Punnett Squares HOME

Since the genes that cause these disorders are usually found on the X
chromosome, we will use the letters XH to abbreviate a dominant
healthy allele on the X chromosome.
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Sex-Linked Punnett Squares HOME

Key for this tutorial:

XH = Dominant healthy

Since the genes that cause these disorders are usually found on the X
chromosome, we will use the letters XH to abbreviate a dominant
healthy allele on the X chromosome.
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Sex-Linked Punnett Squares HOME

Key for this tutorial:

XH = Dominant healthy

Since the genes that cause these disorders are usually found on the X
chromosome, we will use the letters XH to abbreviate a dominant
healthy allele on the X chromosome.
Therefore Xh will be used to abbreviate a recessive unhealthy allele on
the X chromosome.
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Sex-Linked Punnett Squares HOME

Key for this tutorial:

XH = Dominant healthy
Xh = recessive disease

Since the genes that cause these disorders are usually found on the X
chromosome, we will use the letters XH to abbreviate a dominant
healthy allele on the X chromosome.
Therefore Xh will be used to abbreviate a recessive unhealthy allele on
the X chromosome.
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Sex-Linked Punnett Squares HOME

Key for this tutorial:

XH = Dominant healthy
Xh = recessive disease

Since the genes that cause these disorders are usually found on the X
chromosome, we will use the letters XH to abbreviate a dominant
healthy allele on the X chromosome.
Therefore Xh will be used to abbreviate a recessive unhealthy allele on
the X chromosome.
Since most sex-linked disorders are found on the X chromosome, this
tutorial will not address Y-linked problems.
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Men? Women? Both? HOME

Key for this tutorial:

XH = Dominant healthy
Xh = recessive disease

Men only have two possible

chromosome combinations. If guys are
healthy, they must be XH Y.
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Men? Women? Both? HOME

Key for this tutorial:

XH = Dominant healthy
Xh = recessive disease

Men only have two possible

chromosome combinations. If guys are
healthy, they must be XH Y.

XH Y = healthy
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Men? Women? Both? HOME

Key for this tutorial:

XH = Dominant healthy
Xh = recessive disease

Men only have two possible

chromosome combinations. If guys are
healthy, they must be XH Y.
If a guy has a sex-linked disease, he
must be Xh Y. XH Y = healthy
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Men? Women? Both? HOME

Key for this tutorial:

XH = Dominant healthy
Xh = recessive disease

Men only have two possible

chromosome combinations. If guys are
healthy, they must be XH Y.
If a guy has a sex-linked disease, he
must be Xh Y. XH Y = healthy
Xh Y = disease
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Men? Women? Both? HOME

Key for this tutorial:

XH = Dominant healthy
Xh = recessive disease

Sex-linked disorders are most commonly

found on the X chromosome. They are
also more common in males because
males only have 1 X chromosome. If a
male’s only X chromosome is damaged,
XH Y = healthy
males do not have a “backup” X
chromosome. Xh Y = disease
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Men? Women? Both? HOME

What about my Y
Key for this tutorial: chromosome? If my Y
chromosome is “healthy” and
XH = Dominant healthy my X chromosome has a
“disease”, will I be healthy?
Xh = recessive disease Yes No

Sex-linked disorders are most commonly

found on the X chromosome. They are
also more common in males because
males only have 1 X chromosome. If a
male’s only X chromosome is damaged,
XH Y = healthy
males do not have a “backup” X
chromosome. Xh Y = disease
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Men? Women? Both? HOME

What about my Y
Key for this tutorial: chromosome? If my Y
chromosome is “healthy” and
XH = Dominant healthy my X chromosome has a
“disease”, will I be healthy?
Xh = recessive disease

Actually, no. These disorders are

mostly found on the X
chromosome. So even though
you may have a normal Y
chromosome, it won’t protect
you from these disorders.
XH Y = healthy
Xh Y = disease
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Men? Women? Both? HOME

What about my Y
Key for this tutorial: chromosome? If my Y
chromosome is “healthy” and
XH = Dominant healthy my X chromosome has a
“disease”, will I be healthy?
Xh = recessive disease No
correct

But what about women? Women don’t

have a Y chromosome. Women have
two X chromosomes.
XH Y = healthy
Xh Y = disease
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Men? Women? Both? HOME

Key for this tutorial:

XH = Dominant healthy
Xh = recessive disease

Women could have 1 of 3 different

combination of X chromosomes.
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Men? Women? Both? HOME

Key for this tutorial:

XH = Dominant healthy
Xh = recessive disease

If both her X chromosomes have

healthy alleles, she will be healthy.

XH XH = healthy
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Men? Women? Both? HOME

Key for this tutorial:

XH = Dominant healthy
Xh = recessive disease

If both her X chromosomes have the

allele for disease, she will have a
disease.
XH XH = healthy

Xh Xh = disease
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Men? Women? Both? HOME

Key for this tutorial:

XH = Dominant healthy
Xh = recessive disease

But if she is heterozygous, she will be

healthy. Women have a “backup” X
chromosome in case their other has a
recessive disease. This is the reason why XH XH = healthy
sex-linked diseases in women is very
rare. Men don’t have this advantage. XH Xh = healthy
Girl Power! (carrier)
Xh Xh = disease
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Three Families HOME

The Jackson Family The Guzman Family The Chang Family

Here are three families. Each of them has a history of a sex-linked

disorder. They need your help because they hope to have children in the
near future. Click the Guzman Family to start.
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The Guzman Family HOME

Hemophilia is a sex-linked recessive disorder

found on the X chromosome. Sufferers of
hemophilia lack a protein that helps their blood
coagulate (clot) when injured. Thus, the person
can lose a lot of blood from very minor injuries.
Click on the vein to continue.
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The Guzman Family HOME

Hemophilia is a sex-linked recessive disorder

found on the X chromosome. Sufferers of
hemophilia lack a protein that helps their blood
coagulate (clot) when injured. Thus, the person
can lose a lot of blood from very minor injuries.

Mr. Guzman is a hemophiliac. What is his

genotype?

XH Y Xh Y
The capital H would Correct. He does not
mean he would be have a “backup” X
healthy. But the story chromosome.
says he is a hemophiliac.
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The Guzman Family HOME

Hemophilia is a sex-linked recessive disorder

found on the X chromosome. Sufferers of
hemophilia lack a protein that helps their blood
coagulate (clot) when injured. Thus, the person
can lose a lot of blood from very minor injuries.

Mrs. Guzman is healthy with no family history of

hemophilia. What is her genotype?
XH X H XH X h Xh X h
Mr. Guzman’s
Genotype: Correct. She must She has “no history of Capital H is healthy.
Xh Y be homozygous hemophilia” in her Lowercase h is the
dominant. family. If she has a Xh disease.
that would mean it If she was Xh Xh,
runs in her family. then she would
have the disease.
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The Guzman Family HOME

So lets fill in the Punnett square below.

Ladies first.

XH XH Xh Y
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The Guzman Family HOME

Now it’s Mr. Guzman’s turn.

XH XH Xh Y

XH

XH
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The Guzman Family HOME

Now it’s Mr. Guzman’s turn.

XH XH Xh Y

Xh Y

XH
continue
XH
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The Guzman Family HOME

Now it’s Mr. Guzman’s turn.

XH XH Xh Y

Xh Y

XH

XH
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The Guzman Family HOME

Now it’s Mr. Guzman’s turn.

XH XH Xh Y

Xh Y

XH XH Xh

XH
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The Guzman Family HOME

Now it’s Mr. Guzman’s turn.

XH XH Xh Y

Xh Y

XH XH Xh XH Y

XH
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The Guzman Family HOME

Now it’s Mr. Guzman’s turn.

XH XH Xh Y

Xh Y

XH XH Xh XH Y

XH XH Xh
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The Guzman Family HOME

There
Now it’s
areMr.
2 squares
Guzman’sthatturn.
show a
healthy boy. Click on each of them.

XH XH Xh Y

Xh Y

XH XH Xh XH Y
Healthy boy

XH XH Xh XH Y
Healthy boy
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The Guzman Family HOME

What is the probability of having a

child, boy or girl, with hemophilia?
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
XH XH Xh Y
I have good news. Even though
Mr. Guzman has hemophilia, none
of your children will be
hemophiliacs. But there is
something to worry about…

If you have daughters,

Xh Y
they will be carriers of
hemophilia. They can
XH XH Xh XH Y
pass the gene to their
children.
XH XH Xh XH Y
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The Guzman Family HOME

Thank you very much

for your help doctor.
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The Guzman Family HOME

This information
helps to ease
the stress of
starting a
family.
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The Guzman Family HOME

You’re so very
welcome. Please
excuse me. I have
another family to
meet with.
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The Jackson Family HOME

Colorblindness is a sex-linked recessive disorder

found on the X chromosome. Colorblindness is
the inability to perceive differences between
some of the colors that other people can
distinguish.

The Jackson Family

Colorblindness
Normal vision
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The Jackson Family HOME

Colorblindness is a sex-linked recessive disorder

found on the X chromosome. Colorblindness is
the inability to perceive differences between
some of the colors that other people can
distinguish.

Remember that women have two X

chromosomes. Because the disorder is recessive,
a woman needs two recessive alleles to inherit
the disorder.

The Jackson Family

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The Jackson Family HOME

Colorblindness is a sex-linked recessive disorder

found on the X chromosome. Colorblindness is
the inability to perceive differences between
some of the colors that other people can
distinguish.

Remember that women have two X

chromosomes. Because the disorder is recessive,
a woman needs two recessive alleles to inherit
the disorder.

The Jackson Family

Mr. Jackson is colorblind. What is his genotype?

XH Y Xh Y
Mr. Jackson is colorblind Correct. He does not
and that’s recessive. have a “backup” X
Recessive letters are chromosome.
lowercase.
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The Jackson Family HOME

Colorblindness is a sex-linked recessive disorder

found on the X chromosome. Colorblindness is
the inability to perceive differences between
some of the colors that other people can
distinguish.

Remember that women have two X

chromosomes. Because the disorder is recessive,
a woman needs two recessive alleles to inherit
the disorder.

The Jackson Family

Mrs. Jackson has normal vision, but her father
was colorblind. Therefore her father passed her a
copy of the colorblind allele. What is her
genotype?
Mr. Guzman’s XH X H XH X h Xh X h
Genotype: But her father was colorblind If she was this, she
Xh Y and would pass his Xh to her correct would be colorblind.
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The Jackson Family HOME

So let’s complete their Punnett square.

Xh Y XH Xh
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The Jackson Family HOME

So let’s complete their Punnett square.

Which genotype
goes inside this
square?

XHXH
XHXh
XhXh
XY H XH Xh
X Y h
X X
H h XhY Xh
Y
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The Jackson Family HOME

So let’s complete their Punnett square.

Which genotype goes inside this square?

XHXH XHXh XhXh XHY XhY

XH Xh
X Y h
X X
H h X h XHXh

Y
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The Jackson Family HOME

So let’s complete their Punnett square.

Which genotype
goes inside this
square?

XHXH
XHXh
XH Xh
XhXh
X Y h
X X
H h
XYH X h XHXh XhXh
XhY
Y
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The Jackson Family HOME

So let’s complete their Punnett square.

Which genotype
goes inside this
square?

XHXH
XHXh
XXh h XH Xh
XHY
X Y h
X X
H h X h XHXh XhXh
XhY
Y XHY
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The Jackson Family HOME

Great job. Now let’s analyze the Punnett

square. Click on the genotype of a
colorblind girl.

correct

XH Xh
Normal vision

X Y h
X X
H h X h XHXh
girl
X h h
X
Colorblind girl

Normal vision Colorblind

Y XHY
boy
XhY
boy
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The Jackson Family HOME

What is the probability of having a child

(boy or girl) with normal vision?

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

correct

XH Xh
Normal vision

X Y h
X X
H h X h XHXh XhXh
Normal vision

Y XHY XhY
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The Jackson Family HOME

Even if your children are

colorblind, there’s really
nothing to worry about.
There’s no negative
health effects.
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The Jackson Family HOME

I may be colorblind, but I

can see my beautiful wife.
Thank you doctor.
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The Chang Family HOME

Muscular Dystrophy is a sex-linked recessive disorder

found on the X chromosome. The muscles of sufferers
begin to deteriorate at an early age leaving the
individual weakened and largely immobile. Death by
mid-20s is common.

The Chang Family

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The Chang Family HOME

Muscular Dystrophy is a sex-linked recessive disorder

found on the X chromosome. The muscles of sufferers
begin to deteriorate at an early age leaving the
individual weakened and largely immobile. Death by
mid-20s is common.
Mrs. Chang has a history of muscular dystrophy in her
family and as a result they are considering adoption as
an alternative. Because the disorder is recessive, a
woman needs two recessive genes to inherit the
disorder. Can you help?

The Chang Family

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The Chang Family HOME

Muscular Dystrophy is a sex-linked recessive disorder

found on the X chromosome. The muscles of sufferers
begin to deteriorate at an early age leaving the
individual weakened and largely immobile. Death by
mid-20s is common.
Mrs. Chang has a history of muscular dystrophy in her
family and as a result they are considering adoption as
an alternative. Because the disorder is recessive, a
woman needs two recessive genes to inherit the
disorder. Can you help?
Mr. Chang is healthy with no history of muscular
dystrophy. What is his genotype?

XH Y Xh Y
The Chang Family
Correct. XH means he would The story says Mr. Chang is
be healthy. healthy. If he was XhY he would
have the disease.
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The Chang Family HOME

Muscular Dystrophy is a sex-linked recessive disorder

found on the X chromosome. The muscles of sufferers
begin to deteriorate at an early age leaving the
individual weakened and largely immobile. Death by
mid-20s is common.
Mrs. Chang has a history of muscular dystrophy in her
family and as a result they are considering adoption as
an alternative. Because the disorder is recessive, a
woman needs two recessive genes to inherit the
disorder. Can you help?
Mrs. Chang is healthy even though she carries the
recessive allele for muscular dystrophy. What is her
genotype?
Mr. Chang XH X H XH X h Xh X h
XH Y The story says she If she was this, she
is a “carrier” correct wouldn’t be
healthy.
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The Chang Family HOME

Lets complete their Punnett Square.

Mrs. Chang

Mrs. Chang
X H Xh

Mr. Chang
XH Y
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The Chang Family HOME

Lets complete their Punnett Square.

Mrs. Chang
X H Xh
XH Xh

Mr. Chang
XH Y Mr. Chang
BACK
The Chang Family HOME

Lets complete their Punnett Square.

Mrs. Chang
X H Xh

XH Xh

Mr. Chang
XH Y
XH Y
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The Chang Family HOME

Lets complete their Punnett Square.

Mrs. Chang
X H Xh

XH Xh
X X X
H H
H
Mr. Chang
XH Y
Y
BACK
The Chang Family HOME

Lets complete their Punnett Square.

Mrs. Chang
X H Xh

XH Xh
X X X XH Xh
H H
H
Mr. Chang
XH Y
Y
BACK
The Chang Family HOME

Lets complete their Punnett Square.

Mrs. Chang
X H Xh

XH Xh
X X X XH Xh
H H
H
Mr. Chang
XH Y
Y XH Y
BACK
The Chang Family HOME

What is the probability the Chang’s have a child with

muscular dystrophy?

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

correct
Mrs. Chang
X H Xh

XH Xh
X X
H
X XH Xh
H H
Mr. Chang
XH Y
Y XH Y Xh Y
BACK
The Chang Family HOME

Click the square below that would lead to a child with

muscular dystrophy.

Mrs. Chang
X H Xh correct

XH Xh
X X X XH Xh
H H
H
Mr. Chang
Muscular
XH Y
Y XH Y Xh Y
dystrophy
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The Chang Family HOME

You have an important

decision to make.

XH Xh
XHX X XH Xh
H H

Muscular

Y XH Y Xh Y
dystrophy
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The Chang Family HOME

You have a 25% of having

a boy inherit this disease.

XH Xh
XHX X XH Xh
H H

Muscular

Y XH Y Xh Y
dystrophy
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The Chang Family HOME

If that happens, he will

not likely live past his
20’s.

XH Xh
XHX X XH Xh
H H

Muscular

Y XH Y Xh Y
dystrophy
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The Chang Family HOME

But there is a 75%

chance that every
child will be fine.
Correct?

XH Xh
XHX X XH Xh
H H

Muscular

Y XH Y Xh Y
dystrophy
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The Chang Family HOME

That’s correct. However, I

wanted you to know the
probability.

XH Xh
XHX X XH Xh
H H

Muscular

Y XH Y Xh Y
dystrophy
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The Chang Family HOME

Thank you doctor.

We will discuss this
information and
perhaps consider
adoption.

XH Xh
XHX X XH Xh
H H

Muscular

Y XH Y Xh Y
dystrophy
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Conclusion HOME

This is different from my pea

plant experiments. The genes
to give pea plants their color
and texture are not found on
the sex chromosomes.
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Conclusion HOME

It turns out that the pea plant

characteristics I studied are
found on nonsex
chromosomes, or autosomes.
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Conclusion HOME

Only genes and traits

that can be found on
the X or Y chromosome
are called sex-linked.
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Conclusion HOME

Most of these disorders are

recessive, which means that
women are less likely to suffer
from the disorder because
woman has a “backup” X
chromosome.
BACK HOME

The End

End
Tutorial