autosomas

Autosomos, more commonly termed autosomes, are the non-sex chromosomes found in the cells of most organisms. In humans, there are 22 pairs of autosomes, numbered 1 through 22 by size and banding pattern, for a total of 44 individual autosomes. The sex chromosomes, X and Y, determine biological sex and are not considered autosomes. Autosomes are present in homologous pairs in diploid cells and carry the majority of an organism’s genes.

During meiosis, autosomes pair and can undergo recombination, which creates new combinations of alleles in gametes. This genetic shuffling contributes to variation among offspring. Genes located on autosomes follow Mendelian inheritance patterns, including autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and autosomal codominant modes. The expression of autosomal traits can be influenced by penetrance, expressivity, and interactions with other genes and environmental factors.

Autosomal disorders encompass a wide range of inherited conditions. Examples include autosomal recessive diseases such as cystic fibrosis and autosomal dominant diseases such as Huntington disease. Some birth defects and disorders arise from numerical or structural changes to autosomes, such as trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) and other autosomal aneuploidies. Structural rearrangements involving autosomal regions—deletions, duplications, and translocations—can also cause disease.

In genetics and medicine, autosomes are distinguished from sex chromosomes and are central to studies of inheritance, development, and disease. The analysis of autosomal genes employs cytogenetics, linkage analysis, and genome-wide approaches to illuminate their roles in biology.