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

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 connection between abnormal chromosomes and cancer has been suspected for more than a hundred years.

From Science Daily • Mar. 10, 2026

And what of the many other pesticides that interfere with cell division, break chromosomes, cause mutations?

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson