🧬 Having XY chromosomes 🧬 XY chromosome sex

heterogametic

9.9

An animal or person with two different sex chromosomes that makes two kinds of sex cells

noun
/ˌhɛtərəˈɡæmətɪk/

Specialized

: heterogamético

In humans, males are considered heterogametic due to their XY chromosomes.

Examples

In mammals, the male is the heterogametic sex, carrying both X and Y chromosomes.
Some insects have females as the heterogametic individuals, producing two types of eggs.
The concept of heterogametic and homogametic sexes is important in genetics and biology.
The heterogametic sex in many species is typically male.
In mammals, the male is the heterogametic sex, carrying both X and Y chromosomes.
In humans, males are considered heterogametic due to their XY chromosomes.
Some insects have females as the heterogametic individuals, producing two types of eggs.

Surface Forms

heterogametic singular

heterogametics plural

Morphology

heterogametic = gametic (semi-transparent) = hetero + gamet + ic

The structure 'hetero-' + 'gametic' is compositional, but the term is a specialized biological label whose full meaning is not obvious to an average learner.

Etymology

Heterogametic comes from hetero- 'different' and gamete 'sex cell'. A heterogametic is the sex or individual that produces two different kinds of sex cells and usually carries two different sex chromosomes, like X and Y.