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28 votes
28 votes
I have a question: can sex-linked genes be present on either the x or Y chromosomes? I was reading about fruit flies and it said they have their eye color gene on the X chromosome so I was thinking, is it possible for a sex-linked gene to be on the Y chromosome?

User Kesar Sisodiya
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1 Answer

17 votes
17 votes

Sex-linked genes can be present in either X or Y chromosomes. X-linked genes are present in X chromosomes. If it is recessive, the male will be affected because he is carrying only one X chromosomes. The female however will not be affected because she carries one normal gene on the X chromosomes.

Sex-linked genes is a mutation in the X chromosomes. If it is dominant, the female will be generally be affected because she is carrying the mutated gene in the X chromosome. The Y chromosome can be affected less frequently.