What type of chromosomes are responsible for genetic traits linked to gender?

Sex chromosomes are the specific type of chromosomes responsible for genetic traits linked to gender. In humans, there are two sex chromosomes: X and Y. Females typically have two X chromosomes (XX), while males have one X and one Y chromosome (XY). This distinction directly influences the development of sexual characteristics and the inheritance of gender-linked traits.

For example, the presence of the Y chromosome triggers the development of male physical traits, while the absence of it (having two X chromosomes) aligns with female development. Various traits, such as certain types of color blindness or hemophilia, are linked to genes located on the X chromosome, demonstrating how sex chromosomes can influence gender-specific genetic traits.

Other options like autosomes (which are non-sex chromosomes) carry the majority of genetic information unrelated to gender. Euchromatin is a form of chromatin that is involved in gene expression, while nucleosomes are the structural unit of chromatin that packages DNA, neither of which directly relate to the inheritance of gender-specific traits.