Sex Linked Traits

I.    Sex Chromosomes

      The sex chromosomes are the 23rd pair of chromosomes in Humans.

       Females have two X chromosomes (X X)

      Males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosomes (X Y)

      The X chromosome is considerably larger than the Y chromosome therefore there are many traits that are     associated with the X chromosome; these are called sex-linked traits.

II    Sex Linked Traits

      Color Blindness is an example of a sex linked trait.  The gene for color blindness is found on the X chromosome. 

    Females have two X chromosomes therefore they could have normal vision XX;

    Females could be a carrier for colorblindness (X^l X);

    or Females could be colorblind (X^l X^l ).

    Males can either have normal vision (X Y); or

    Males can be colorblind (X^l Y ).  Since Males only have one X chromosome they cannot be a carrier; they will either have the trait, or not have the trait.

http://ghs.gresham.k12.or.us/science/ps/sci/soph/genetics/notes/sexlinked.htm

http://web.mit.edu/esgbio/www/mg/sexlinkage.html

http://www.biology.arizona.edu/mendelian_genetics/problem_sets/sex_linked_inheritance/07Q.html