| Library / English Dictionary |
SEX CHROMOSOME
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
(genetics) a chromosome that determines the sex of an individual
Example:
mammals normally have two sex chromosomes
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("sex chromosome" is a kind of...):
chromosome (a threadlike strand of DNA in the cell nucleus that carries the genes in a linear order)
Domain category:
genetic science; genetics (the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sex chromosome"):
X chromosome (the sex chromosome that is present in both sexes: singly in males and doubly in females)
XX ((genetics) normal complement of sex chromosomes in a female)
XXX ((genetics) abnormal complement of three X chromosomes in a female)
XXY ((genetics) abnormal complement of sex hormones in a male resulting in Klinefelter's syndrome)
XY ((genetics) normal complement of sex hormones in a male)
XYY ((genetics) abnormal complement of sex hormones in a male who has two Y chromosomes)
Y chromosome (the sex chromosome that is carried by men)
