Why are sex-linked traits expressed more frequently in males than in females?
A)Males have fewer chromosomes than females.
B)Males have more chromosomes than females.
C)Males have more sex chromosomes than females.
D)Males have a smaller Y chromosome that contains fewer genes that correspond to the larger X chromosome.
E)Males have a larger Y chromosome that contains more genes that correspond to the smaller X chromosome.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Males have one X and one Y chromosome, making them hemizygous for genes on the X chromosome. If a gene on the X chromosome is recessive and related to a trait, males will express this trait if they inherit the gene, because they lack a second X chromosome that could carry a dominant allele to mask the recessive one. The Y chromosome is smaller and contains fewer genes, which means it does not have corresponding alleles for many of the genes on the X chromosome. This is why sex-linked traits, particularly those that are recessive, are more frequently expressed in males.

Why Are Sex-Linked Traits Expressed More Frequently in Males Than