sex chromosome

American  

[seks kroh-muh-sohm] / ˈsɛks ˌkroʊ məˌsoʊm /

noun

Genetics.

1. a chromosome, differing in shape or function from other chromosomes, that determines the sex of an individual.

---

sex chromosome British  

noun

1. either of the chromosomes determining the sex of animals See also X-chromosome Y-chromosome

---

sex chromosome Scientific  

1. Either of a pair of chromosomes, usually called X and Y, that in combination determine the sex of an individual in many animals and in some plants. In mammals, XX results in a female and XY in a male, while the opposite is true in birds (where the designations ZW for female and ZZ for male are often used). Sex chromosomes carry the genes that control the development of reproductive organs and secondary sex characteristics. In some organisms, sex is determined by environmental influences.

2. See also X-chromosome Y-chromosome

---

Etymology

Origin of sex chromosome

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

The structure of the newly revealed genomes suggests that these sex chromosomes were once in a ring formation, and then broke into pieces — although more research is needed to figure out how that happened.

From New York Times

Moreover, platypuses don’t have stomachs—their gullets lead directly to their intestines—and they have 10 sex chromosomes to our measly two.

From National Geographic

A third possible contributor is differences between genes on the female X and male Y sex chromosomes.

From Scientific American

As a consequence of axis separation, the sister chromatids of spermatocyte sex chromosomes are farther apart than are those of other chromosomes.

From Nature

"They show that in XX or XY systems, the XX, or the female, lives longer, so clearly there is an effect of sex chromosomes," said Dr Lemaître.

From BBC