Question

Which of the following is an example of a sex-linked disease?

• A. Diabetes
• B. Haemophilia
• C. Leukaemia
• D. AIDS

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Haemophilia

Explanation of correct option

The correct option is B:

1. Haemophilia is a sex-linked recessive disease that is transmitted from an unaffected carrier female to some of the male offspring.
2. As the genes that control the expression of this disease are present on X-chromosomes, thus, it is an X-linked disease.

Explanation of incorrect options

Option A:

1. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that is caused by high sugar in the blood.
2. The primary energy source in our body is blood glucose, which derives from the food we eat.
3. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, aids glucose absorption into cells for use as energy.
4. Sometimes our body doesn't produce enough insulin, or it doesn't use it properly.
5. Glucose remains in your circulation and does not reach your cells as a result. Diabetes is the result of this fault.

Option C:

1. Leukemia is a cancer of blood cells that is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
2. Leukemia is a genetic disease, however, it is not always inherited.
3. Because it is linked to a person's DNA, leukemia is classified as a hereditary disease. But it is not linked to sex chromosomes.
4. A mutation in two genes which are the PML gene on chromosome 15 and the RARA gene on chromosome 17, leads to acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Option D:

1. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a chronic, potentially fatal disease (HIV).
2. HIV impairs your body's resistance to infection and disease by destroying your immune system.
3. So, AIDS is a sexually transmitted viral disease.

Thus, hemophilia is a sex-linked disease.