chromosome - Definition | Dictionary definition of chromosome

Definition of chromosome

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

"humans have 22 chromosome pairs plus two sex chromosomes"

Types:: show 13 types...; hide 13 types...; sex chromosome
(genetics) a chromosome that determines the sex of an individual; 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; 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

Type of:: body
an individual 3-dimensional object that has mass and that is distinguishable from other objects