chromosomes

Cultural  

1. 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

"In this study, we successfully assembled the first complete cattle X chromosome and four autosomes. However, assembling the remaining chromosomes to the same level of completeness remains an aim for future work," Dr. Low said.

From Science Daily

What sets these viruses apart is their unusual ability to insert their genetic material into human chromosomes.

From Science Daily

The second measured telomere length, which refers to protective structures at the ends of chromosomes.

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New work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison shows that problems in a protein vital for keeping chromosomes stable may contribute to serious -- and at times fatal -- health conditions.

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For years, it was thought to act like a motor that pulled wandering chromosomes into position as a cell prepared to divide.

From Science Daily