What type of inheritance pattern typically describes color blindness?

Color blindness is most commonly associated with an X-linked recessive inheritance pattern. This means that the gene responsible for the condition is located on the X chromosome, and the recessive nature of the gene requires two copies for the trait to manifest in females (who have two X chromosomes) but only one copy in males (who have one X and one Y chromosome). As a result, males are more frequently affected by color blindness than females, because males express whatever gene is present on their single X chromosome.

In this context, a male with the color blindness gene on his X chromosome will exhibit the condition, while a female would need both X chromosomes to carry the gene to express color blindness. The pattern also further illustrates why a father cannot pass color blindness to his son, as he transmits his Y chromosome to male offspring, while daughters inherit his X chromosome. This distinction clarifies the gender bias towards the expression of color blindness and reinforces the classification of the disorder as X-linked recessive.