heterochromatin

American

[het-er-uh-kroh-muh-tin] / ˌhɛt ər əˈkroʊ mə tɪn /

noun

Genetics.

the dense, highly stainable part of a chromosome.

heterochromatin British

/ ˌhɛtərəʊˈkrəʊmətɪn /

noun

the condensed part of a chromosome that stains strongly with basic dyes in nondividing cells and has little genetic activity Compare euchromatin

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of heterochromatin

First recorded in 1930–35; hetero- + chromatin

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.

They found out that long-lived RNAs in neurons consist of mRNAs and non-coding RNAs and accumulate near the heterochromatin -- the densely packed region of the genome, typically homing inactive genes.

From Science Daily • Apr. 4, 2024

They also plan to model a disease called progeria, in which cells have a genetic mutation that leads to loss of heterochromatin.

From Science Daily • Nov. 16, 2023

Eukaryote chromosomes are wrapped around histone proteins that could form heterochromatin, which is not present in prokaryotes.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Eukaryote chromosomes are wrapped around histone proteins that create heterochromatin and euchromatin, which is not present in prokaryotes.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Animals also use small RNA-directed DNA methylation and heterochromatin formation mechanisms to maintain the epigenome of the germ line through the use of Piwi-interacting RNAs.

From Nature • Mar. 13, 2013

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