The primary reason that sex-linked traits are observed more frequently in men than in women is that:
A) mutations are much more common in male offspring
B) male babies are weaker so are more likely to be spontaneously aborted if any developmental process is compromised
C) the Y chromosome is much smaller and has fewer genes than the X chromosome
D) women generally do not talk about sex-related behavior as much as do men

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sex-linked traits are, by definition, those that are determined by genes on the 23rd chromosome pair (the sex chromosomes). If a normally recessive allele appears on the male's X chromosome, there often is no allele on the Y chromosome to offset it, and the recessive trait will be expressed as the individual's phenotype. In contrast, in females, the recessive trait will be expressed only if it occurs on both X chromosomes. Because a trait will be expressed in males when two recessive alleles are inherited or when a recessive allele is inherited from the mother and no allele appears on the Y chromosome to offset it, sex-linked traits are more frequently observed in men than in women.

The Primary Reason That Sex-Linked Traits Are Observed More Frequently