Inheritance

□ For a number of traits, gene expression

differs in males and females
□ The causes fall under 3 categories:
1)Sex-Linked
2)Sex-Limited
3)Sex-Influenced
 Sex-Linked Traits
•Sex-linked traits involve genes that
are carried only on the X or Y
chromosomes, which are involved in
determining the sex of animals.
•The female genotype is XX, while
the male genotype is XY.
 Sex-Linked Traits

The X chromosome is larger and

longer than the Y chromosome,
which means a portion of the X
chromosome does not pair with
genes on the Y chromosome.
 Sex-Linked Traits
•Additionally, a certain portion of the Y
chromosome does not link with the X
chromosome.
•The traits on this portion of the Y
chromosome are transmitted only from
fathers to sons.
•Sex-linked traits are often recessive and are
covered up in the female mammal by
dominant genes.
 Sex-Linked Traits
•Sex-linked traits would be considered traits
like sickle cell anemia and color blindness.
They are said to be linked because more
males (XY) develop these traits than females
(XX). This is because the females have a
second X gene to counteract the recessive
trait. Thus, the trait is more likely to be visible
in the male.
Normal Vision Father x Color blind Carrier
Mother

xC y xC xc

xC xC xC xc
xC y xc y

Phenotype
2 normal vision daughter but 1 is a carrier
1 normal vision son
1 colorblind son
Genotype
1 xC xC
1 xC xc
1 xC y
1 xc y
Sex- Influence Trait
□ Sex-influenced traits are autosomal traits that
are influenced by sex.
□ If a male has one recessive allele, he will show
that trait, but it will take two recessive for the
female to show that same trait.
□ One such gene is baldness.

xB xb xB yb 1 bald
female

1 non bald female

xB xB xb yb 1 bald
male
Sex-Limited inheritance
□ Phenotypic expression is limited to one
sex
□ Ex. Milk production, and scrotal
circumference
□ These genes are not necessarily on the
sex chromosomes but are only expressed
in the male or female
□ Thought to be hormonally conditioned