En EspanolTalking Glossary of Genetic Terms
Carla Easter, Ph.D. defines Sex Chromosome
Sex Chromosome
A sex chromosome is a type of chromosome that participates in sex determination. Humans and most other mammals have two sex chromosomes, the X and the Y. Females have two X chromosomes in their cells, while males have both X and a Y chromosomes in their cells. Egg cells all contain an X chromosome, while sperm cells contain an X or Y chromosome. This arrangement means that it is the male that determines the sex of the offspring when fertilization occurs.
Send this term to a friend
How to cite this term for research papers
