Which term would describe a trait due to genes on autosomes?

Which term would describe a trait due to genes on autosomes?

• A. Autosomal
• B. Sex-linked trait
• C. Carrier
• D. Pedigree

Answer: (A)

Traits controlled by genes on autosomes come from the non-sex chromosomes, the autosomes, which are present in both males and females. Because autosomes are the same across sexes, these traits typically show inheritance patterns that are not tied to gender, fitting classic Mendelian expectations. That’s why autosomal is the best descriptor for a trait due to genes on autosomes. In contrast, a sex-linked trait involves genes on sex chromosomes (X or Y), a carrier is someone who has one copy of a recessive allele (and may or may not express the trait), and a pedigree is just a family tree used to trace inheritance.

Traits controlled by genes on autosomes come from the non-sex chromosomes, the autosomes, which are present in both males and females. Because autosomes are the same across sexes, these traits typically show inheritance patterns that are not tied to gender, fitting classic Mendelian expectations. That’s why autosomal is the best descriptor for a trait due to genes on autosomes. In contrast, a sex-linked trait involves genes on sex chromosomes (X or Y), a carrier is someone who has one copy of a recessive allele (and may or may not express the trait), and a pedigree is just a family tree used to trace inheritance.