Chromosome
/ˈkɹoʊməˌsoʊm/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A linear arrangement of condensed DNA and associated proteins (such as chaperone proteins) which contains the genetic material (genome) of an organism.
"Chromosomes store genetic information."
- 2 a threadlike strand of DNA in the cell nucleus that carries the genes in a linear order wordnet
Example
More examples"Men have an X and Y chromosome; women, two Xs."
Etymology
19th century: from German Chromosom, ultimately from Ancient Greek χρῶμα (khrôma, “colour”) + σῶμα (sôma, “body”) (because they are stained under the microscope). Equivalent to chromo- + -some.