Which chromosomes are responsible for determining the gender of an individual?

The sex chromosomes are specifically responsible for determining the gender of an individual. In humans, there are two sex chromosomes: X and Y. Typically, females have two X chromosomes (XX), while males have one X and one Y chromosome (XY). The presence of the Y chromosome is what triggers the development of male characteristics, as it carries the SRY gene that initiates male sex determination.

Autosomes, on the other hand, are the non-sex chromosomes and do not play a role in determining gender since they are the same for both males and females. Homologous chromosomes refer to pairs of chromosomes that are similar in shape, size, and genetic content but do not specifically pertain to gender determination. Recessive chromosomes is a term that doesn't accurately describe a category of chromosomes; rather, it relates to the expression of certain traits influenced by alleles on chromosomes. Therefore, the sex chromosomes are key in determining an individual's sex due to their specific roles in genetic and hormonal development.