allosome
|al-lo-some|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˈæləˌsoʊm/
🇬🇧
/ˈæləˌsəʊm/
sex-determining chromosome
Etymology
Etymology Information
'allosome' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'allos,' meaning 'other,' and 'soma,' meaning 'body.'
Historical Evolution
'allos' and 'soma' combined in Greek to form 'allosoma,' which was later adapted into English as 'allosome.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to any 'other body' or structure, but over time it evolved to specifically denote chromosomes involved in sex determination.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a chromosome that differs from an ordinary autosome in form, size, or behavior and is involved in sex determination.
In humans, the X and Y chromosomes are considered allosomes.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/06/29 04:36