| y map | The array of genes on the y chromosome. Once thought to be a genetic wasteland, the y now is known to contain at least 20 genes, some of them unique to the y including the male-determining gene and male fitness genes that are active only in the testis and are thought responsible for the formation of sperm. Other genes on the y have counterparts on the x chromosome, are active in many body tissues and play crucial housekeeping roles with the cell. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| fate map | <embryology> Diagram of an early embryo (usually a blastula) showing which tissues the cells in each region will give rise to (i.e. Their developmental fate). Fate maps are normally constructed by labelling small groups of cells in the blastula with vital dyes and seeing which tissues are stained when the embryo develops. (18 Nov 1997) |
| linkage map | <genetics> A map of the relative positions of genetic loci on a chromosome, determined onthe basis of how often the loci are inherited together. Distance ismeasured in centimorgans (cM). (09 Oct 1997) |