A Y chromosome is the chromosome in a man's cells which will produce a male baby if it joins with a female's X chromosome. Y chromosomes are associated with male characteristics. Compare X chromosome.
Y-chromosome in British English
noun
the sex chromosome that occurs as one of a pair with the X-chromosome in the diploid cells of the males of many animals, including humans
Compare X-chromosome
Y chromosome in American English
see sex chromosome
Examples of 'Y-chromosome' in a sentence
Y-chromosome
She's got a chip on her shoulder against anything that's got both an X and a Y chromosome.
Barbara Delinsky PASSION AND ILLUSION (1983)
For some time scientists have been predicting that the male Y-chromosome is heading for eventual extinction.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They found that for generations the Cohanim have passed down the same Y-chromosome from father to son.
Bruce Feiler WALKING THE BIBLE (2001)
This means that if the birth records were correct, the pairs of men ought to carry the same genetic sequence on their Y-chromosome.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There might be Y-chromosome nuclear DNA surviving.