What is sex linkage?

 

Sex linkage is a type of genetic disease, where the gene with the faulty allele is carried on the X chromosome. 

Women have 2X chromosomes whilst men only have 1. Consequently if the diseased allele is recessive, males always express it in their phenotype if it is present in their genotype (XhY) whereas women require 2 recessive alleles to show expression (homozygous XhXh). Therefore women can only be effected if both her mother and father contain the allele. Women can be carriers (XhXH). 

A key example is haemophillia. 

KD

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

Describe and explain the effects of non-optimal pH and temperature on enzyme activity.


Why do chemical impulses only go in one direction across a synapse?


Describe how the process of translation occurs during protein synthesis.


Describe the way solutes are transported in a plant's vascular system