chromonema

[ kroh-muh-nee-muh ]

noun,plural chro·mo·ne·ma·ta [kroh-muh-nee-muh-tuh]. /ˌkroʊ məˈni mə tə/. Genetics.
  1. a chromosome thread that is relatively uncoiled at early prophase but assumes a spiral form at metaphase.

Origin of chromonema

1
1920–25; chromo- + Greek nêma thread

Other words from chromonema

  • chro·mo·ne·mat·ic [kroh-muh-nuh-mat-ik, -nee-], /ˌkroʊ mə nəˈmæt ɪk, -ni-/, adjective

Words Nearby chromonema

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for chromonema

chromonema

/ (ˌkrəʊməˈniːmə) /


nounplural -mata (-mətə) cytology
  1. the coiled mass of threads visible within a nucleus at the start of cell division

  2. a coiled chromatin thread within a single chromosome

Origin of chromonema

1
C20: from chromo- + Greek nēma thread, yarn

Derived forms of chromonema

  • chromonemal, chromonematic (ˌkrəʊməʊnɪˈmætɪk) or chromonemic, adjective

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