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Y chromosome
noun
: a sex chromosome that is characteristic of male cells in species in which the male typically has two unlike sex chromosomes compare x chromosome
Examples of Y chromosome in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The tests strongly indicated that Eston had the same Y chromosome mutations seen in the Jefferson lineage.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Baltimore Sun, 4 May 2024
How the female body handles its extra X chromosome (the male body has just one plus a Y chromosome) might be a factor that helps explain why women are more susceptible to these types of disorders, a new study has suggested.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 9 Feb. 2024
Female cells have two X chromosomes, whereas males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (at least in mammals).
—Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 6 Feb. 2024
The X chromosome is packed with hundreds of genes, far more than males’ much smaller Y chromosome.
—TIME, 2 Feb. 2024
In addition to providing a complete sequence of one Y chromosome, a companion paper also included 42 other sequences for comparison and to begin to represent human diversity.
—Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 24 Aug. 2023
Men with few Y chromosomes in their blood cells, for instance, are more prone to heart disease, neurological conditions and cancer.
—Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 21 June 2023
The next step involved pooling together 16 cancer cells from mice containing a normal Y chromosome with 16 cells missing a Y chromosome.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Popular Science, 22 June 2023
Doctors recommended banking one’s own stool for gut rejuvenation in old age, and the loss of Y chromosomes among aging men leads to premature death.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Oct. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Y chromosome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1911, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near Y chromosome
Cite this Entry
“Y chromosome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Y%20chromosome. Accessed 14 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
Y chromosome
noun
: a sex chromosome that is associated with maleness and occurs only in male cells paired with an X chromosome in organisms (as human beings) in which the male normally has two unlike sex chromosomes compare x chromosome
Medical Definition
Y chromosome
noun
: a sex chromosome that is characteristic of male cells in species in which the male typically has two unlike sex chromosomes compare x chromosome
More from Merriam-Webster on Y chromosome
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Y chromosome
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