Which term refers to a chromosome that determines an individual's sex?

• A. Autosomal chromosome
• B. Mutation
• C. Sex chromosome
• D. Species

Answer: (C)

Sex is determined by chromosomes, and the chromosome responsible for this trait is called the sex chromosome. In humans and many other organisms, these are the X and Y chromosomes: typically XX lines up with female development and XY with male development, though other species can have different systems. The sex chromosomes stand out from autosomal chromosomes, which are the non-sex chromosomes that carry the majority of genes but don’t determine whether an individual is male or female. A mutation is a change in DNA and isn’t about which chromosome determines sex, while species is simply a level of biological classification.