noun
chromosome
KROH-muh-sohm
noun
1
A thread-like structure of tightly coiled DNA and protein that carries an organism's genes.
"Humans normally have 46 chromosomes in each cell."
"A mutation on this chromosome can cause the disorder."
How to Use Chromosome
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA structure inside a cell's nucleus that packages up an organism's DNA.
Common pairings
sex chromosome
chromosome pair
chromosome number
Word Forms
chromosomes plural
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Humans normally have 46 _____ in each cell.
Etymology
From German Chromosom, built from Greek khrôma (\"colour\") + sôma (\"body\"), because the structures show up vividly when stained for viewing under a microscope.