MICROANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -An autosome is one of the numbered chromosomes, as opposed to the sex chromosomes. Humans have 22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes (XX or XY ). Autosomes are numbered roughly in relation to their sizes.

Detailed explanation-2: -All chromosomes except the sex chromosomes are referred to as autosomes. They exist in pairs in the somatic cells whereas singly in the gametic cells.

Detailed explanation-3: -Twenty-two of these pairs, called autosomes, look the same in both males and females. The 23rd pair, the sex chromosomes, differ between males and females. Females have two copies of the X chromosome, while males have one X and one Y chromosome. The 22 autosomes are numbered by size.

Detailed explanation-4: -In humans, a somatic cell will normally contain 23 pairs of chromosomes (total=46 chromosomes). Twenty-two (22) of these pairs will be autosomes, and only one of them will be a pair of sex chromosomes (the X and Y chromosomes).