Females can be carriers of sex-linked disorders because they have two X chromosomes. If a female inherits a defective gene on one of her X chromosomes, she can still be healthy because the other X chromosome can compensate for the defect. However, she can pass on the defective gene to her offspring, making them more likely to develop the disorder. Males, on the other hand, only have one X chromosome, so if they inherit a defective gene on that chromosome, they are more likely to develop the disorder themselves rather than being carriers. Children can also be carriers if they inherit a defective gene from their carrier mother.