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| Autosomes and Allosomes |
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| In unisexual organisms, the chromosomes can be distinguished into autosomes and allosomes. Autosomes or somatic chromosomes carry genes which determine the somatic characteristics and do not have any influence on determining the sex of the organism. Allosomes are sex chromosomes which carry genes responsible for sexual characteristics and as such have a significant role in the determination of sex. Generally, one specific pair of chromosomes in the diploid number is identified as the allosomes. While the two members of each pair of autosomes are identical morphologically and genetically, it may not be the same for allosomes, particularly in males. In most cases, the two allosomes in the 'female identical to each other, are designated as XX, while in the male one allosome is identical to that of female and designated as X and the other differing morphologically and genetically is designated as Y. The Y chromosome in most cases is smaller in size than the X chromosomes. The Y chromosome in particular determines the male sex and hence it is described as androsome. |
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| Apart from their role in sex determination, the allosomes also have a significant role in sex-linked inheritance. |
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