Of the 23 pairs of human chromosomes, 22 look the same in males and females. These are the autosomes. They carry the bulk of genetic information responsible for most traits and diseases unrelated to sex determination.

Autosomes are numbered roughly by size from 1 to 22. Each pair consists of one chromosome inherited from the mother and one from the father. Genes on autosomes follow Mendelian patterns of dominant and recessive inheritance, independent of the sex of the individual.

Structural changes or numerical errors involving autosomes produce a wide range of developmental and health effects. Karyotypes display the autosomes arranged by size and banding pattern, allowing clinicians to detect deletions, duplications, and aneuploidies. Most of the human genome resides on these chromosomes.

• Non-sex chromosome
• Humans have 22 pairs
• Carry majority of genetic information
• Follow standard Mendelian inheritance