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chromosomes

Cultural

The small bodies in the nucleus of a cell that carry the chemical “instructions” for reproduction of the cell. They consist of strands of DNA wrapped in a double helix around a core of proteins. Each species of plant or animal has a characteristic number of chromosomes. For human beings, for example, it is forty-six.

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In humans, sex is determined by two chromosomes: an X-chromosome, which is female, and a Y-chromosome, which is male. (See sex chromosomes.)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He found that Anabaena and some related cyanobacteria contain a system known as ParMR encoded within their chromosomes.

From Science Daily • Apr. 20, 2026

Two-time Olympic women's 800m champion Caster Semenya's DSD means she has male XY chromosomes.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Even men who lack Y chromosomes still have a copy of the SRY region on one of their X chromosomes, which accounts for their maleness.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

These included the presence and position of double stranded DNA breaks within chromosomes.

From Science Daily • Mar. 10, 2026

The chemosterilants of this group are alkylating agents, which are extremely reactive chemicals, capable of intense cell destruction, damage to chromosomes, and production of mutations.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023