Final answer:
X-linked recessive traits are more prevalent in males because they have only one X chromosome and a single copy of the recessive allele will express the trait. Females, needing two copies of the recessive allele to express the trait, can be carriers if they possess one recessive allele without showing the trait, potentially passing it to their offspring.
Step-by-step explanation:
X-linked recessive traits are more common in males than in females. This is because males have only one X chromosome, meaning a single recessive allele on this chromosome will result in the expression of the trait. Conversely, females have two X chromosomes and would need two copies of the recessive allele to express the trait. X-linked recessive inheritance makes females carriers when they have one recessive and one dominant allele, often presenting with no symptoms.
Human sex-linked disorders such as red-green color blindness, Types A and B hemophilia, and some forms of muscular dystrophy are examples of conditions that follow this pattern of inheritance. These disorders are more frequently observed in males, as males need to inherit only one mutant X allele to be affected, while females must inherit recessive alleles from both parents to express the trait. If they inherit one recessive X-linked allele and one normal allele, females will be carriers and can pass the trait to their offspring without showing any phenotypic effect.