En EspanolTalking Glossary of Genetic Terms
Carla Easter, Ph.D. defines Sex Linked
Sex Linked
Sex linked is a trait in which a gene is located on a sex chromosome. In humans, the term generally refers to traits that are influenced by genes on the X chromosome. This is because the X chromosome is large and contains many more genes than the smaller Y chromosome. In a sex-linked disease, it is usually males who are affected because they have a single copy of X chromosome that carries the mutation. In females, the effect of the mutation may be masked by the second healthy copy of the X chromosome.
Send this term to a friend
How to cite this term for research papers
