What are the chromosomes called that determine the sex of an individual?

The chromosomes responsible for determining the sex of an individual are known as sex chromosomes. In humans and many other organisms, these chromosomes are typically represented as X and Y. Individuals with two X chromosomes typically develop as female, while those with one X and one Y chromosome usually develop as male. Sex chromosomes play a crucial role not only in determining an individual’s sex but also in carrying genes that can impact various traits and characteristics associated with that sex.

Other types of chromosomes, such as autosomes, do not influence an individual's sex; instead, they contain genes for other characteristics. Somatic chromosomes generally refer to all of the chromosomes in the body that are not involved in determining sex. Linked chromosomes refer to the phenomenon of genes being inherited together due to their proximity on the same chromosome, which is unrelated to the determination of sex.