Why Do X-Linked Conditions Appear More Frequently in Males Than

Question

Why do X-linked conditions appear more frequently in males than in females?
A) A male with a nonfunctioning allele on the X chromosome does not have another allele of that gene on the Y chromosome.
B) Males have no X chromosomes.
C) The Y chromosome carries many alleles that are recessive to alleles on the X.
D) Males are more likely to inherit an extra chromosome than females.
E) Females have no X chromosomes.

Accepted Answer

A male inherits only one X chromosome (from the mother) and one Y chromosome (from the father). If the X chromosome carries a nonfunctioning allele for a particular gene, there is no corresponding allele on the Y chromosome to mask the effect, leading to the expression of the condition. This is why X-linked conditions are more frequently observed in males.