Question

What are autosomes? How many autosomes would be found in the normal liver cells of a human female?

Answer 1

Hint: Autosomes are chromosomes, which are other than sex chromosomes. Human cells have only one pair of sex chromosomes and the remaining pairs are autosomes. Autosomes help in regulating functions other than sex determination. Members of pair of autosome in a diploid cell exhibit same morphology, but in sex chromosome pairs, members exhibit different structures.

Complete answer:
There are \[23\] pairs of chromosomes in a human cell. The number is the same irrespective of the size, type and location of the cell. Liver cells of a human cell also have 23 pairs of chromosomes. Out of \[23\] pairs,\[22\] pairs of chromosomes are autosomes and \[1\] pair of chromosomes is sex chromosome, which is XX. 22 pairs of autosomes imply \[44\]number of autosomes. DNA in autosomes is collectively called auDNA or atDNA.
There are thousand genes in autosomes, with each of them performing some unique function in cells of organisms. Each cell type in a eukaryotic organism exhibits a different combination of genes in the right place at the right time, enabling cells to perform a huge array of functions.
Mutation in autosomes have led to some autosomal recessive disorders like sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, both of which are single gene disorders. Sickle cell anemia decreases the capacity of blood vessels to carry oxygen, while cystic fibrosis causes disease in the liver.

Note:
Sex chromosomes are considered distinct from autosomes. In both types of chromosomes, the inheritance pattern works differently. X chromosome is sex chromosome in males and in females, Y chromosome is sex chromosome. During meiosis, in the production of sex cells, sex cells mix their DNA between two copies of each autosome, which results in a unique set of chromosomes.