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Sex Chromosome definitions

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  • Homogametic Sex
    A sex possessing only one type of sex chromosome, regardless of the total number present in the organism.
  • Heterogametic Sex
    A sex possessing two different types of sex chromosomes, determining the organism's sexual phenotype.
  • XX/XY System
    A sex determination system where females have two identical sex chromosomes and males have two different ones.
  • XX/XO System
    A system where sex is determined by the presence of one or two of the same sex chromosome, common in some insects.
  • ZZ/ZW System
    A system where males have two identical sex chromosomes and females have two different ones, seen in birds and fish.
  • Monoecious
    An organism containing both male and female reproductive organs, sometimes called hermaphroditic.
  • Dioecious
    An organism containing either male or female reproductive organs, but not both.
  • Nondisjunction
    An error during meiosis where sex chromosomes fail to separate, leading to abnormal chromosome numbers.
  • Klinefelter Syndrome
    A condition with extra X chromosomes, resulting in male phenotype with infertility and distinct physical traits.
  • Turner Syndrome
    A condition with a single X chromosome, leading to female phenotype with infertility and cognitive challenges.
  • Karyotype
    A visual map of an individual's chromosomes, used to identify chromosomal abnormalities.
  • SRY Gene
    A region on the Y chromosome responsible for initiating male development by producing a specific protein.
  • Barr Body
    A condensed, inactivated X chromosome found in female cells, ensuring gene dosage balance.
  • Lyon Hypothesis
    A concept explaining random inactivation of one X chromosome in female mammals during early development.
  • Mosaic Phenotype
    A condition where different cells in an organism express different genetic traits due to X chromosome inactivation.