Autosome
Autosome
Autosome (/ˈɔːtəˌsoʊm/), from the Greek autos (self) and soma (body), is a term used in genetics to describe any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome. They are found in pairs in the cell nuclei of all eukaryotes (organisms with a defined nucleus), except for the sperm and egg cells.
Definition
An autosome is a chromosome that is not involved in determining the sex of an organism. In humans, autosomes range in number from 1 to 22, with an additional pair of sex chromosomes, either XX for females or XY for males.
Function
Autosomes carry the bulk of the genetic material and are responsible for the inheritance of most traits. They contain genes for general body characteristics, such as eye color, hair color, and skin color, as well as genes for many health conditions.
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.
- Sex Chromosome: A chromosome involved with determining the sex of an organism, typically one of two kinds.
- Eukaryote: An organism consisting of a cell or cells in which the genetic material is DNA in the form of chromosomes contained within a distinct nucleus.
Etymology
The term autosome was coined in the early 20th century from the Greek autos (self) and soma (body). It was used to distinguish these chromosomes from the sex chromosomes, which were involved in determining the sex of an organism.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Autosome
- Wikipedia's article - Autosome
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