chromosome

/ˌkroʊməˈsoʊm/

/ˈkrʌʊməzəʊm/

Other forms: chromosomes

A chromosome is a strand of DNA that is encoded with genes. In most cells, humans have 22 pairs of these chromosomes plus the two sex chromosomes (XX in females and XY in males) for a total of 46.

The word chromosome was originally coined in German from the Greek words khroma, meaning "color," and soma meaning "body." In the late 1800s, a scientist, Wilhelm von Waldeyer-Hartz, gave chromosomes their name because chromosomes easily accept dye and take on patterns of light and dark when exposed to different stains that help identify the different chromosomes.

Definitions of chromosome

1. noun

   a threadlike strand of DNA in the cell nucleus that carries the genes in a linear order
   types:

   sex chromosome

   (genetics) a chromosome that determines the sex of an individual

   autosome, somatic chromosome

   any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome; appear in pairs in body cells but as single chromosomes in spermatozoa

   acentric chromosome

   a chromosome lacking a centromere

   acrocentric chromosome

   a chromosome with the centromere near one end so that one chromosomal arm is short and one is long

   metacentric chromosome

   a chromosome having two equal arms because the centromere is in median position

   telocentric chromosome

   a chromosome like a straight rod with the centromere in terminal position

   X chromosome

   the sex chromosome that is present in both sexes: singly in males and doubly in females

   XX

   (genetics) normal complement of sex chromosomes in a female

   XXX

   (genetics) abnormal complement of three X chromosomes in a female

   XXY

   (genetics) abnormal complement of sex hormones in a male resulting in Klinefelter's syndrome

   XY

   (genetics) normal complement of sex hormones in a male

   XYY

   (genetics) abnormal complement of sex hormones in a male who has two Y chromosomes

   Y chromosome

   the sex chromosome that is carried by men

   type of:

   body

   an individual 3-dimensional object that has mass and that is distinguishable from other objects