chromatin

[kroh-muh-tin]

noun

Cell Biology.

1. the readily stainable substance of a cell nucleus, consisting of DNA, RNA, and various proteins, that forms chromosomes during cell division.

chromatin

/ ˈkrəʊmətɪn /

noun

1. cytology the part of the nucleus that consists of DNA and proteins, forms the chromosomes, and stains with basic dyes See also euchromatin heterochromatin

chromatin

1. The substance distributed in the nucleus of a cell that condenses to form chromosomes during cell division. It consists mainly of DNA and proteins called histones.

Other Word Forms

• chromatinic adjective
• chromatoid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chromatin¹

First recorded in 1880–85; chromat- + -in ²

Example Sentences

In order for DNA to fit within a cell's nucleus, it is wound up around histone proteins to form a structure called "chromatin."

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Each macrophage contains a set of identity-forming instructions encoded in strands of DNA, which are wrapped around protein complexes called histones and then wound into a 3D structure called chromatin.

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In regions where gene expression is active, this packing is looser, meaning that chromatin is more open.

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Within each of these cells lies a dynamic interplay of genetic components, including chromatin and RNA, which dictate crucial cellular functions.

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This complex mechanism is mainly driven by the interaction between proteins called transcription factors, DNA regulatory regions, and epigenetic modifications -- chemical alterations that change chromatin structure.

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