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Cell division & heredity · Topic 17 of 17

Chromosomes & Non-Mendelian Inheritance

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Biology · chromosomes and inheritance

Chromosomes & Non-Mendelian Inheritance

Humans have 23 chromosome pairs, with XX or XY setting sex; some traits blend (incomplete dominance) or show both alleles (codominance).

01 · SexFather's X or Y sets the sex
02 · Don't confuseBlend = incomplete · both show = codominant
03 · Sex-linkedX-linked recessive: mostly males
01

What it is

Karyotype: chromosomes photographed and lined up in numbered pairs
Nondisjunction: chromosomes fail to separate → gamete with extra or missing one
Multiple alleles: 3+ versions in a population; each person has only 2
X-linked: color blindness, hemophilia; XHXh female = carrier
02

Parts & jobs

Chromosome: one long DNA molecule packed with proteins; carries many genes must know
03

Know by heart

Humans: 46 = 22 pairs of autosomes + 1 pair of sex chromosomes must know
Trisomy = 3 copies (47 total) · monosomy = 1 copy (45) · Down = trisomy 21
04

The rules

XX = female, XY = male — the father's sperm (X or Y) decides must know
ABO: A = IAIA or IAi · B = IBIB or IBi · AB = IAIB · O = ii
X-linked recessive: one copy shows in males (XY) → more common in males
Fathers pass X-linked alleles to all daughters, never to sons
Incomplete or codominance: heterozygote × heterozygote → 1 : 2 : 1 phenotypes
05

Worked examples

Incomplete dominance: BY × BY → 1 blue : 2 green : 1 yellow
IAi × IBi → 25% each: AB, A, B, O
XhY father × XHXH mother → all daughters carriers, all sons unaffected
06

Don't confuse

Incomplete = blend (pink) · codominance = both show (AB blood) must know
07

Incomplete dominance or codominance?

Commonly confused
Incomplete dominanceCodominance
Heterozygote looksA blend between the parentsBoth traits fully shown
Classic exampleRed × white flowers → pinkType AB blood (IAIB)
Heterozygote × heterozygote1 : 2 : 11 : 2 : 1
08

More detail

Show 3 more facts
Y is much smaller than X with far fewer genes
Turner = XO (one X) · Klinefelter = XXY
Nondisjunction risk (e.g. Down syndrome) rises with maternal age
Pearl

Pink flowers blend their parents; AB blood shows both.

Sources · OpenStax Concepts of Biology §6.1 The Genome · OpenStax Concepts of Biology §9.1 The Structure of DNA · OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e §28.7 Patterns of Inheritance · OpenStax Concepts of Biology §8.3 Extensions of the Laws of Inheritance · OpenStax Concepts of Biology §7.3 Variations in Meiosis · Texas State Technical College library guide — HESI A2 (Biology content list) · Varsity Tutors — HESI A2 Biology lesson: Genes, Chromosomes and Inheritance (incomplete dominance, codominance, sex-linked) · Built from the verified NurseSavvy HESI A2 fact map (facts reviewed 2026-10-16). HESI is a trademark of Elsevier; NurseSavvy is not affiliated with Elsevier.

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