Sex Chromosomes

Question 1

Which pair of chromosomes are the sex chromosomes/gonosomes?

Answer 1

• pair 23

Question 2

What sex chromosome combination codes for a female?

Answer 2

• XX

Question 3

What sex chromosome combination codes for a boy?

Answer 3

• XY

Question 4

What is the sex of an organism determined by?

Answer 4

• the presence or absence of the Y chromosome

Question 5

What is the inheritance of sex a special form of?

Answer 5

• inheritance of sex is a special form of monohybrid inheritance

Question 6

How is the Y chromosome structured in relation to alleles?

Answer 6

• the Y chromosome is very short and has very few alleles on it other than those responsible for ‘maleness’

Question 7

How is the X chromosome structured in relation to alleles?

Answer 7

• the X chromosome is much longer and can carry many alleles along its length in addition to those for ‘femaleness’

Question 8

What are x-linked/sex-linked genes?

Answer 8

• the alleles that are carried on the non-homologous part of an X chromosome