Autosomal chromosome

Autosomal Chromosome

Autosomal Chromosome (pronunciation: aw-toh-soh-muhl kroh-muh-sohm) is a term used in Genetics to describe any of the numbered chromosomes, as opposed to the sex chromosomes. Humans have 22 pairs of autosomal chromosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes (the X and Y).

Etymology

The term "Autosomal" is derived from the Greek word "autos" meaning self, and "soma" meaning body. It refers to the fact that these chromosomes are common to both sexes, unlike the sex chromosomes which differ between male and female.

Related Terms

Chromosome: A thread-like structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.
Gene: A unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.
Genome: The complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.
Sex Chromosome: A chromosome involved with determining the sex of an organism, typically one of two kinds.
Genetic Disorder: A genetic problem caused by one or more abnormalities in the genome, especially a condition that is present from birth.
DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material which is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.