autosomal

[ aw-tuh-soh-muhl ]

adjective

, Genetics.

1. occurring on or transmitted by a chromosome other than one of the sex chromosomes:

   Marfan syndrome is a connective tissue disorder inherited as an autosomal dominant trait.

Other Words From

• au·to·so·mal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of autosomal¹

First recorded in 1910–15; autosom(e) ( def ) + -al ¹( def )

Example Sentences

Cockayne syndrome is a severe autosomal recessive disorder caused by defective DNA repair mechanisms.

From Science Daily

The genome consists of 2.9 billion base pairs, which form 23 autosomal chromosomes, and X and Y sex chromosomes.

From Science Daily

Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System identified Charvet’s remains using mitochondrial DNA and autosomal DNA analysis.

From Seattle Times

A definitive FTD diagnosis is only possible if investigators perform a postmortem brain examination, Finger notes, or if a person carries a so-called autosomal dominant mutation, in which a single copy of a mutated gene can lead to the disease.

From Scientific American

The disease is particularly prevalent among Mennonites in Manitoba, a province in Canada, where about 1 in 2,500 babies are born with severe HPP, which is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner: Two copies of the mutated gene, usually one from each parent, are required to cause disease.

From Washington Post