What Student Need to Know about Autosomal Dominant Inheritance

Each human body cell has a full complement of DNA stored in 23 pairs of chromosomes. The image below shows the pairs in a systematic arrangement called a karyotype. Among these is one pair of chromosomes, called the sex chromosomes, that determines the sex of the individual (XX in females, XY in males). The remaining 22 chromosome pairs are called autosomal chromosomes. Each of these chromosomes carries hundreds or even thousands of genes, each of which codes for the assembly of a particular proteinthat is, genes are expressed as proteins. An individuals complete genetic makeup is referred to as his or her genotype. The characteristics that the genes express, whether they are physical, behavioral, or biochemical, are a persons phenotype. You inherit one chromosome in each paira full complement of 23from each parent. This occurs when the sperm and oocyte combine at the moment of your conception. Homologous chromosomesthose that make up a complementary pairhave genes for the same characteristics