Red-green color blindness is classified as which type of genetic disorder?

Red-green color blindness is classified as an X-linked recessive genetic disorder. This means that the gene responsible for this type of color blindness is located on the X chromosome and that two copies of the mutated allele are required for females to express the disorder. Since males possess only one X chromosome, possessing just a single copy of the mutant allele results in the expression of red-green color blindness.

In the case of X-linked recessive disorders, the affected gene is passed from carrier mothers to their sons, who are more likely to express the condition due to their one X chromosome. Females can be carriers if they have one normal and one affected X chromosome, but they typically do not show symptoms unless they inherit the affected allele from both parents. This is in contrast to X-linked dominant disorders, where just one copy of the mutated gene can cause the disorder in both males and females. In autosomal disorders, the genes are located on non-sex chromosomes, and the inheritance patterns differ. Thus, the classification as X-linked recessive accurately describes the genetic basis of red-green color blindness.