1. any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome; in humans, one of the 22 pairs of chromosomes other than the X and Y chromosomes.
Usage: technical term used in genetics and biology

Examples

• Humans have 22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes.
• Autosomal dominant disorders are inherited through genes located on autosomes rather than sex chromosomes.
• The geneticist studied mutations on autosome 7 to understand the disease.
• Unlike sex chromosomes, autosomes are the same in males and females.
• Cystic fibrosis is caused by a recessive mutation on an autosome.