Under what condition can a female acquire an X recessive disorder?

Females may get the defective gene either from her mother's defective X, or, if her father has the disorder, from her father. In either case, the girl will be a carrier and will probably pass the defect to her offspring.

1. Can females get X-linked dominant diseases?
2. Why can females be carriers of X-linked recessive disorders but not males?
3. What is an example of an X-linked recessive condition?
4. How is it possible that some females manifest an X-linked disorder as well?

Can females get X-linked dominant diseases?

X-linked Dominant Inheritance

X-linked dominant disorders are seen more commonly in females than in males, or in the case of some diseases, affect only females. In the latter case, it is thought that the hemizygous males are so severely affected, they do not survive.

Why can females be carriers of X-linked recessive disorders but not males?

Because females have two copies of the X chromosome and males have only one X chromosome, X-linked recessive diseases are more common among males than females.

What is an example of an X-linked recessive condition?

Examples of X-linked recessive conditions include red-green color blindness and hemophilia A: Red-green color blindness. Red-green color blindness simply means that a person cannot distinguish shades of red and green (usually blue-green). Their visual acuity (ability to see) is normal.

How is it possible that some females manifest an X-linked disorder as well?

Some females manifest their X-linked variant because it is overexpressed; their variant is expressed in more than half their cells because of skewing in the proportions of normal and abnormal cells.