Question

What are sex chromosomes. What role do they play in determining genetically the sex of an individual in human beings.

Answer 1

Chromosomes are thread like structure found in the nucleus of the cell. The small fragments of chromosomes are known as DNA which is known as the genetic material of the cell. There are 46 chromosomes present in a diploid cell. Out of 46 chromosomes, 22 pairs of chromosomes are autosomes (that do not participate in sex determination) and 1 pair of sex chromosomes that determines whether child of parent is male or female. The female have 2 X chromosomes as sex chromosomes whereas male have one X and one Y chromosomes. If the child inherit one X chromosome from mother and one from the father, the child is female. If male transmit Y chromosome and female transmit X chromosome, the child will always be male.