A male expresses an X linked recessive trait whenever he inherits one recessive allele because he

  • A. has only one X chromosome
  • B. has two Y chromosomes
  • C. inactivates the normal allele
  • D. lacks the gene altogether

Explanation

With no second X to supply a dominant allele, the single recessive allele has nothing to mask it, a state called hemizygosity. Females need two copies of the same allele to show the trait, which is why these conditions are commoner in men.

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