Which trait would be expected to affect more males than females?

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Study for the UCF PCB3063 Genetics Final Exam. Prepare with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each offering hints and explanations. Ace your exam with confidence!

The trait that would be expected to affect more males than females is an X-linked recessive trait. This is because males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, while females have two X chromosomes.

In the case of X-linked recessive traits, a male who inherits a single recessive allele on his X chromosome will express the trait, as he does not have a second X chromosome that could potentially carry a dominant allele to mask the effect of the recessive allele. In contrast, a female would need to inherit two copies of the recessive allele (one on each of her X chromosomes) to express the trait, meaning females are less likely to exhibit the trait than males.

This understanding is critical when analyzing inheritance patterns for various traits. For example, if a trait is X-linked recessive, the prevalence of the trait in a population will be significantly higher in males compared to females. In summary, X-linked recessive traits demonstrate a clear disparity in expression between genders, consistently affecting more males.