chromosome

[kroh-muh-sohm] /ˈkroʊ məˌsoʊm/

noun, Genetics.

any of several threadlike bodies, consisting of chromatin, that carry the genes in a linear order: the human species has 23 pairs, designated 1 to 22 in order of decreasing size and X and Y for the female and male sex chromosomes respectively.

Origin of chromosome

1885-90; chromo- + -some³

Related forms

chromosomal, adjective

chromosomally, adverb

interchromosomal, adjective

interchromosomally, adverb

nonchromosomal, adjective

Examples from the web for chromosome

None of this has much to do with an essay on chromosome-counting.
Each time a cell divides, its chromosome tips are cut off, until finally it dies.
In other words, when a section of chromosome flips over it traps adapted genes.
Sometimes they swap chromosome chunks with each other.
She has two copies of each chromosome, one from each species.
As her own eggs develop, however, the chromosome pairs swap some segments.
Tests are also done to look for chromosome changes in the cells of some leukemias.
The changes in chromosome structure and other genetic damage can increase the animal's risk of cancer and reproductive damage.
Recombination with the different homologous chromosome is avoided by some trick.
Each chromosome on the wall poster can be viewed online or downloaded from our chromosome image gallery.

British Dictionary definitions for chromosome

chromosome

/ˈkrəʊməˌsəʊm/

noun

any of the microscopic rod-shaped structures that appear in a cell nucleus during cell division, consisting of nucleoprotein arranged into units (genes) that are responsible for the transmission of hereditary characteristics See also homologous chromosomes

Derived Forms

chromosomal, adjective
chromosomally, adverb

Word Origin and History for chromosome

1889, from German Chromosom, coined 1888 by German anatomist Wilhelm von Waldeyer-Hartz (1836-1921), from Latinized form of Greek khroma "color" (see chroma) + -some (3)). So called because the structures contain a substance that stains readily with basic dyes.

chromosome in Medicine

chromosome chro·mo·some (krō'mə-sōm')
n.

A threadlike linear strand of DNA and associated proteins in the nucleus of animal and plant cells that carries the genes and functions in the transmission of hereditary information.
A circular strand of DNA in bacteria and cyanobacteria that contains the hereditary information necessary for cell life.

chro'mo·so'mal (-sō'məl) or chro'mo·so'mic (-sō'mĭk) adj.

chromosome in Science

chromosome

(krō'mə-sōm')

A structure in all living cells that consists of a single molecule of DNA bonded to various proteins and that carries the genes determining heredity. In all eukaryotic cells, the chromosomes occur as threadlike strands in the nucleus. During cell reproduction, these strands coil up and condense into much thicker structures that are easily viewed under a microscope. Chromosomes occur in pairs in all of the cells of eukaryotes except the reproductive cells, which have one of each chromosome, and some red blood cells (such as those of mammals) that expel their nuclei. In bacterial cells and other prokaryotes, which have no nucleus, the chromosome is a circular strand of DNA located in the cytoplasm.