Why are males more often affected by sex-linked traits than females?
A) Male hormones such as testosterone often alter the effects of mutations on the X chromosome.
B) Female hormones such as oestrogen often compensate for the effects of mutations on the X chromosome.
C) X chromosomes in males generally have more mutations than X chromosomes in females.
D) Males are hemizygous for the X chromosome.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Males only have one X chromosome (hemizygous), while females have two X chromosomes. Therefore, any mutation on the X chromosome in males will be expressed because there is no second copy of the X chromosome to mask the effects of the mutation, leading to a higher incidence of sex-linked traits in males. Females have a second copy of the X chromosome, which can compensate for mutations on one X chromosome, resulting in a lower incidence of sex-linked traits in females. Hormones do not directly affect the expression of mutations on the X chromosome.

Why Are Males More Often Affected by Sex-Linked Traits Than