Question

In the case of X-linked diseases, males who possess the gene for an unhealthy trait are:

• A. affected
• B. carriers
• C. normal
• D. either A or B

Answer 1

The correct option is A

affected

Sex linked disorders can be linked to either the X chromosome or the Y chromosome. X-linked disorders are those disorders of the X-chromosome. Since males have a single X-chromosome, if they have the defective gene, they will be affected as they do not have a healthy copy of the gene (healthy allele) to mask the defective allele. However, females having one copy of the defective gene on X-chromosome become carriers since they have a healthy copy of the gene to mask it.