Sex chromosome

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Sex chromosome

Sex chromosomes are a type of chromosome that participates in sex determination. Humans and most other mammals have two sex chromosomes, the X and the Y.

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /sɛks kroʊˈmoʊˌsoʊm/

Etymology

The term "sex chromosome" was first used in the early 20th century, following the discovery of the role these chromosomes play in determining the sex of an organism. The term combines "sex" (from Latin sexus, meaning "state of being either male or female") and "chromosome" (from the Greek words chroma, meaning "color", and soma, meaning "body").

Function

Sex chromosomes differ from other chromosomes, known as autosomes, in their inheritance patterns and the types of genes they carry. In mammals, one pair of autosomes is replaced by sex chromosomes. Females have two X chromosomes (XX), while males have one X and one Y chromosome (XY). The Y chromosome contains the SRY gene, which triggers male development.

Related terms

  • Autosome: Any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome.
  • SRY gene: A sex-determining gene on the Y chromosome in mammals.
  • X chromosome: One of the two sex chromosomes; females have two X chromosomes, males have one.
  • Y chromosome: One of the two sex chromosomes; males have one Y chromosome, females do not have this chromosome.
  • Sex determination: The process by which the sex of an organism is established.

External links

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