Jump To:

• Y chromosome
  Y chromosome

  noun

  a sex chromosome of humans and most mammals that is present only in males and is paired with an X chromosome.
• Y-chromosome
  Y-chromosome

  noun

  the sex chromosome that occurs as one of a pair with the X-chromosome in the diploid cells of the males of many animals, including humans Compare X-chromosome

Y chromosome

American  

noun

Genetics.

1. a sex chromosome of humans and most mammals that is present only in males and is paired with an X chromosome.

---

Y-chromosome British  

noun

1. the sex chromosome that occurs as one of a pair with the X-chromosome in the diploid cells of the males of many animals, including humans Compare X-chromosome

---

Y-chromosome Scientific  

1. The sex chromosome that is paired with an X-chromosome in males. Most of the genes on the X-chromosome determine physical attributes associated with males, such as the development of testes.

2. See more at sex chromosome See Note at sex

---

Etymology

Origin of Y chromosome

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Y chromosome Y-chromosome

"While the direct evidence of physical advantage in transgender people is pretty strong, the evidence of advantage for those with DSD, even though they have a Y chromosome, is highly disputed."

From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2026

The human Y chromosome was fully sequenced only recently.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 20, 2026

The Y chromosome contains relatively few genes beyond those involved in male development, so its absence was not expected to affect overall health.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 20, 2026

Because of this, tissues where cells divide quickly are more likely to accumulate Y chromosome loss.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 20, 2026

Other evidence has shown that the Y chromosome of the male is indifferent, so far as these Mendelian factors are concerned.

From A Critique of the Theory of Evolution by Thomas Hunt Morgan

The genetic material was then compared with mitochondrial and Y-chromosome DNA supplied by descendants.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026

The scientists are confident it really is Hitler's blood, because they were able to perfectly match the Y-chromosome with a DNA sample from a male relative that had been collected a decade prior.

From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2025

The swap didn’t banish the Y chromosome from the recipients, but it culled the chromosome from 49% to 81% of white blood cells—about the same percentage as in many humans with Y-chromosome loss.

From Science Magazine ● Jul. 13, 2022

Moore had been a keen hobbyist in traditional genealogy and in early consumer genomics, which had allowed the tracking of direct male lines through the Y-chromosome and of maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA.

From New York Times ● Dec. 27, 2021

"The only thing that puzzles me," Kennon went on, "is how you managed to eliminate the Y-chromosome carriers within the sperm."

From The Lani People by Jesse F. (Jesse Franklin) Bone