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What Does the 23rd Pair of Chromosomes Determine?

Answer – In humans, the 23rd pair of chromosomes are the sex chromosomes, and they determine an individual’s biological sex.

Explanation: 

The 23rd pair of chromosomes comprise the special chromosomes X and Y. Females have a pair of X chromosomes (46 [23 pairs], XX), whereas males have one X and one Y chromosome (46, XY). The presence or absence of the Y chromosome determines whether an individual is biologically male or female. This is because the genes necessary to initiate male development are present on the Y chromosome. The X chromosome is larger than the Y chromosome. The combination of these chromosomes is inherited by one’s parents during sexual reproduction.

Sex chromosomes XX (female) and XY (male) in humans.
The 23rd pair of chromosomes primarily determines biological sex within humans.
Image credit: AmandaCXZ /  Wikimedia Commons (licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0)

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