Autosome

An autosome is a non-sex chromosome. It is an ordinarily paired^[1] type of chromosome that is the same in both sexes of a species. For example, in humans, there are 22 pairs of autosomes. The X and Y chromosomes are not autosomal. Non-autosomal chromosomes are usually referred to as sex chromosomes, allosomes or heterosomes.

Additional recommended knowledge

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

Weighing the right way

Don't let static charges disrupt your weighing accuracy

Notes

1. ^ In the case of higher ploidy levels than the usual diploid, there will be the same number of an autosome as the ploidy level itself. For example, in a pentaploid, there will be five copies of each autosome.

See also

• Autosomal dominant
• Autosomal recessive
• CODIS
• Homologous chromosome
• OmniPop

Classification: Autosome - Sex chromosome

Evolution: Chromosomal inversion - Chromosomal translocation - Polyploidy - Paleopolyploidy

Structure: Chromatin (Euchromatin, Heterochromatin) - Nucleosome - Histone (H1, H2A, H2B, H3, H4) - Centromere - Telomere - Chromatid