What are sex-linked traits?

• A. Genes located on the autosomes
• B. Traits determined solely by environmental factors
• C. Genes located on the sex chromosomes
• D. Traits inherited independently of gender

Answer: (C)

Sex-linked traits refer specifically to characteristics that are associated with genes found on the sex chromosomes, which in humans are the X and Y chromosomes. The most common example involves genes located on the X chromosome. Because males have one X and one Y chromosome, while females have two X chromosomes, the patterns of inheritance for these traits often differ between the sexes. For instance, a male inherits his X chromosome from his mother and his Y chromosome from his father, which can lead to conditions such as hemophilia or color blindness being more prevalent in males than females. Therefore, traits that are affected by genes on the sex chromosomes can display unique inheritance patterns that are related to an individual's gender, distinguishing them from traits inherited independently of sex or those located on the autosomes.