Autosome

When monitoring the inheritance of monogenically determined human traits, we must distinguish whether the relevant gene is located on any pair of 22 autosomes or on the X or Y gonosome. Unlike gonosomes, both paired autosomes contain genetic information that conditions the emergence of the same traits.

In most cases, when a gene is located on a homologous pair of autosomes, it does not matter whether the relevant allele was inherited from the father or from the mother. Phenotypic expression is inherited according to the rules of Mendelian inheritance and depends only on allelic interactions. Exceptions are cases where genomic imprinting is applied, which affects gene expression depending on whether the respective form of the gene is inherited from the mother or from the father (e.g., Prader-Williho syndrom, | OMIM 176270).

Related articles

 * Chromosome
 * Gonosome
 * Human karyotype