Diff. between female and male chromosomes?

[Song-Muh Jong]

Hello,

I used to have an impression that human chromosomes are the simple 23 pairs. 
However, the linkage maps of human chromosomes indicate that female maps are 
larger than male maps. Can someone explain this phenomenon?

TIA,

Song-Muh

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Song-Muh Jong                     TEL: (904) 392-0011
   BITNET:   sjj at ufbiot           FAX: (904) 392-6249
   Internet: sjj at icbr.ifas.ufl.edu