Skip to main content
XYY

XYY

1 9.9
A male who has two Y chromosomes instead of one
  • noun
  • /ɛks waɪ waɪ/
  • Specialized
: XYY
  • Doctors have studied the XYY chromosome pattern to understand its effects on male behavior.
  • XYY chromosome
  • XYY male

Examples

  • Research shows that men with the XYY syndrome may have certain unique physical characteristics.

  • The truth seems to be that the XYY has a propensity toward bad behavior.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • You mean that XYY men showed a propensity for criminal behavior?

    Fiction book (1994)
  • A man could be a hulking XYY and still be a good citizen.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • I was first in studying a large number of men in the general American population who were conspicuous for having the XYY syndrome.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • An early research paper on violent criminals and the XYY chromosome taught the author the important science lesson that correlation is not causation.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The Frenchman and I proved at about the same time that young males cursed with the XYY pattern were likely to have a handful of clearly defined characteristics.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Men with an extra Y chromosome (47, XYY) are not distinguishable from normal (46, XY) men, although the average intelligence of men with this aneuploidy is lower than normal.

    Academic text (2002)
  • The genetic condition known as XYY results in males having an extra Y chromosome, leading to a 47,XYY karyotype.

Surface Forms

XYY singular
XYYs plural

Etymology

XYY is a simple genetic label made from the chromosome letters X and Y, showing that a person has one X and two Y chromosomes instead of the usual one of each. Think of XYY as 'X with an extra Y', which explains why it names the chromosomal condition found in some males.