12.17:
Sex Linked Disorders
Some inherited disorders are caused by mutations to a single gene. And when located on a sex chromosome, the disorder is said to be sex-linked. Depending on which sex chromosome the gene is located on and whether one or both copies are required for proper function, these disorders are considered either Y-linked, X-linked dominant or X-linked recessive.
First, Y-linked disorders such as Y chromosome infertility are caused by mutations on genes located on the Y chromosome and can only be passed down from father to son. Second, X-linked dominant disorders including Fragile X syndrome require only one copy of the mutated gene, affect both females and males and cannot be passed from fathers to sons. Lastly, X-linked recessive disorders affect males much more often because females need two copies of the mutated gene.
Yet, unaffected heterozygous women can be carriers and have a 50% chance to pass it on to their sons. For example, an X-linked recessive disorder called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy or DMD almost exclusively affect boys. DMD is caused by mutations in the gene encoding dystrophin, a protein involved in the proper contraction and repair of skeletal and cardiac muscle cells. These mutations can lead to structural or functional changes to the dystrophin protein without which muscle cells weaken and eventually atrophy.
12.17:
Sex Linked Disorders
Like autosomes, sex chromosomes contain a variety of genes necessary for normal body function. When a mutation in one of these genes results in biological deficits, the disorder is considered sex-linked.
Y chromosome mutations are called “Y-linked” and only affect males since they alone carry a copy of that chromosome. Mutations to the relatively small Y chromosome can impact male sexual function and secondary sex characteristics. Y-chromosome infertility is a disorder that affects sperm production, caused by deletions to the azoospermia factor (AZF) regions of the Y chromosome. In general, Y-linked disorders are only passed from father to son; however, because affected males typically do not father children without assisted reproductive technologies, Y-chromosome infertility is not typically passed on to offspring.
X-linked disorders can be either dominant or recessive. X-linked dominant disorders are the result of a mutation to the X chromosome that can affect either males or females. However, some disorders, including Fragile X syndrome, affect males more severely than females, likely because males do not have a second, normal copy of the X chromosome. Fragile X syndrome is characterized by a wide range of developmental problems, including learning disabilities. X-linked hypophosphatemia is another X-linked dominant condition that manifests in a vitamin-D-resistant form of Rickets.
For a recessive mutation to cause biological deficits, both copies of a chromosome must be mutated. As a result, females must receive two mutated X chromosomes to display an X-linked disorder. In contrast, males are affected if their single X chromosome carries the mutation. As a result, males are affected more often by X-linked recessive conditions, including color blindness, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and hemophilia.
Suggested Reading
Colaco, Stacy, and Deepak Modi. "Genetics of the human Y chromosome and its association with male infertility." Reproductive biology and endocrinology 16, no. 1 (2018): 14. [Source]
Nakamura, Akinori. "Mutation-Based Therapeutic Strategies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: From Genetic Diagnosis to Therapy." Journal of personalized medicine 9, no. 1 (2019): 16. [Source]