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Imagine a human disorder that is inherited as a dominant, X-linked trait. How would the frequency of this disorder vary between males and females? a. Males and females would display this disorder with equal frequency. b. Males would display this disorder with greater frequency than females. c. Females would display this disorder with greater frequency than males. d. Males would not display this disorder as it is on an X chromosome.

User Josiah Krutz
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Answer:

Inherited disorders that are X-linked are passed down from parents to their children through the X chromosomes. Males have only one X chromosome, inherited from their mothers, and therefore only one copy of any X-linked disorder. In contrast, females have two X chromosomes, one inherited from each parent, and therefore have two copies of any X-linked disorder.

Because of this difference in the number of X chromosomes between males and females, the frequency of an X-linked disorder will vary between the two sexes. In particular, males will display the disorder with greater frequency than females. This is because males have only one copy of the disorder, and therefore will always display the disorder if they inherit it. In contrast, females may not display the disorder if they inherit a healthy copy of the X chromosome from one parent and a copy of the disorder from the other parent. Therefore, the correct answer is (B) Males would display this disorder with greater frequency than females.

User PopKernel
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