Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun genetics A
mammalian sex chromosome , occurring only in male cells. Cells of females have a pair of X chromosomes while cells of males have an X and a Y.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Named by Nettie Stevens in 1905 using the next letter in sequence following the naming by Hermann Henking in 1890 of the X chromosome. The brief resemblance in the appearance of the X and Y chromosomes to the letters "X" and "Y" respectively during cell division is entirely coincidental.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word Y chromosome.
Examples
Sorry, no example sentences found.
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.