What is the difference between autosomal and sex-linked traits?

Whats the difference between autosomal and sex linked traits?

• Answer:

  Autosomal traits are inherited via genes that do NOT determine an individual's sex. Sex-linked traits, however, are inherited via genes that DO determine and individual's sex (X and Y chromosomes). (The use of Punnett squares is the best way to help visualize this difference.) Autosomal traits are passed on from parents to offspring independent of gender, whereas, because sex-linked traits are carried on the X chromosome and NOT the Y chromosome, males (XY (hemizygous)) have a 50% chance of being either recessesive or dominant for the trait . With sex-linked traits, females however have more possible outcomes in terms of dominant/recessive traits because of their two X chromosomes (XX). This means that both Xs may be dominant (homozygous dominant), both Xs may be recessive (homozygous recessesive), or one X may be dominant while the other is recessive (heterozygous- the dominant trait would be physically represendted). Some examples of autosomal traits are ability/inabilitiy to roll toungue, freckles/no freckles, widows peak/continuous hairline, etc. Two examples of sex-linked traits are Colorblindness and Hemophilia.