Sex-Linked Inheritance Problem Set

The study of inheritance of genes located on sex chromosomes was pioneered by T. H. Morgan and his students at the beginning of the 20th century. Although Morgan studied fruit flies, the same genetic principles apply to humans. Since males and females differ in their sex chromosomes, inheritance patterns for X-chromosome linked genes vary between the sexes. Our objective is to understand the principles that govern inheritance of genes on sex chromosomes.

Instructions: The following problems have multiple choice answers. Correct answers are reinforced with a brief explanation. Incorrect answers are linked to tutorials to help solve the problem.
  1. Crossing a white-eyed female and red-eyed male fly
  2. Test cross of a red-eyed female fly
  3. Predicting the offspring of a homozygous red-eyed female fly
  4. Predicting genotype when phenotype is known
  5. Another white-eyed female x red-eyed male fly cross
  6. Hemophilia in humans
  7. Red-green color blindness in humans
  8. Tracing the inheritance of the human Y chromosome
  9. Tracing the inheritance of the human X chromosome
  10. Offspring of human females who are carriers for X-linked traits


The Biology Project
University of Arizona
Updated: July 15, 1999
Contact the Development Team

http://www.biology.arizona.edu
All contents copyright © 1996-99. All rights reserved.