Allosome
Allosome
Allosome (pronounced: /ˈæləˌsoʊm/), also known as a sex chromosome, is a type of chromosome that differs from an ordinary autosome in form, size, and behavior. The human allosomes are designated as X and Y, with XX usually determining a female and XY a male.
Etymology
The term "allosome" was derived from the Greek word "allos", meaning "other", and "soma", meaning "body". It was first used in the early 20th century to describe the chromosomes that determine sex.
Related Terms
- Autosome: Any chromosome that is not an allosome is known as an autosome. Humans have 22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of allosomes in each cell.
- Chromosome: A chromosome is a long DNA molecule with part or all of the genetic material of an organism.
- Genome: The genome is the genetic material of an organism, which consists of DNA (or RNA in RNA viruses).
- Karyotype: A karyotype is the number and appearance of chromosomes in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell.
- Sex-determination system: The sex-determination system is a biological system that determines the development of sexual characteristics in an organism.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Allosome
- Wikipedia's article - Allosome
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