In genetic counseling for Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, which statement best describes the inheritance pattern?

Duchenne's muscular dystrophy is recognized as an X-linked recessive disorder, which means that the gene responsible for the condition is located on the X chromosome. In this inheritance pattern, males (who have one X and one Y chromosome) are more severely affected by X-linked disorders because they do not have a second X chromosome to mask the effects of the mutated gene. If a male inherits the affected X chromosome from his mother, he will express the condition since he does not have another X chromosome to counteract the effects of the mutation.

Females, on the other hand, have two X chromosomes and can be carriers of the mutation. They may inherit one affected X chromosome from an unaffected father and one unaffected X chromosome from a mother. In this case, the presence of one normal gene usually prevents them from showing symptoms of the disease, but they can pass the affected allele to their offspring.

Therefore, the statement that best describes the inheritance pattern of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy is that it is an X-linked recessive disorder, highlighting how the gene is inherited predominantly through maternal lineage and affects males more than females. Understanding this inheritance pattern is crucial for genetic counseling, as it informs potential risks for male offspring when a female carrier has children.