Read the article and use it to answer the question that follows. Sex Linked Inheritance

Why are women often carriers of X-linked traits but rarely affected by them?

See the answer below

Explanation:

Women are often carriers of X-linked traits but are rarely affected by the trait because they have two X chromosomes and the two have to carry the X-linked allele in order for them to be phenotypically affected, especially if the trait is a recessive one.

Unlike men that are XY and only require one X-linked allele in order to be affected for X-linked recessive traits, women need two alleles - one on each chromosome - in order to be affected. One of the X chromosomes of a woman usually comes from the woman's father and the other one from her mother. In order to be affected, a woman must inherit an affected chromosome from her father and her mother respectively, thereby reducing the probability of having the trait.

The X chromosome of a man usually comes from his mother. Hence, a man only needs to inherit an affected chromosome from his carrier mother to be affected for the trait, thereby increasing the probability of having the trait when compared to a woman.

This is not the case for X-linked dominant traits where both men and women have an equal chance of being affected.

Women carry two XX chromosomes in their cells. They carry the X chromosome but rarely gets affected by the trait because to be phenotypically affected they should carry X linked disease trait on both the X chromosomes.

Especially in the case when the trait is recessive then they should have two XX chromosomes which are linked to traits.

In the male, they have one X and one Y chromosome so they acquire an X chromosome and gets affected by it.

In male presence of one X chromosome from the carrier mother is enough to pass the trait. While in females to have X linked recessive trait they should have two alleles.

The woman does not get affected as one chromosome comes from the father and the other from the mother so to be affected the woman must acquire genes with traits from both parents.

Therefore, women are often carriers but are rarely affected by them.

To learn more about X linked traits follow the link:

link

c. is the correct answer

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