sex chromosome

noun

: a chromosome that is inherited differently in the two sexes, that is concerned directly with the inheritance of sex, and that is the seat of factors governing the inheritance of various sex-linked and sex-limited characters compare x chromosome, y chromosome

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sex chromosome

noun

: either of a pair of chromosomes (as the human X chromosome or the human Y chromosome) in a sexually reproducing organism that are inherited differently in the two sexes and are concerned with the determination of sex

Medical Definition

sex chromosome

noun

: a chromosome (as the X chromosome or the Y chromosome in humans) of a sexually reproducing eukaryotic organism that is directly concerned with the inheritance of sex, that contains the genes governing the inheritance of various sex-linked and sex-limited characteristics, and that is represented differently in the two sexes either by being present in one and not the other or by being present a different number of times in one sex compared to the other

called also heterochromosome