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

In contrast, when they forced N4BP2 into the cell nucleus, intact chromosomes broke apart, even in otherwise healthy cells.

From Science Daily

Telomeres are the protective ends of chromosomes that gradually shorten each time a cell divides.

From Science Daily

Cells with extra chromosomes often grew larger than normal and eventually died.

From Science Daily

They focused on genes involved in building telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that Levine compares to the plastic tips on shoelaces.

From Science Daily

Many of those mistakes involve gaining or losing whole chromosomes.

From Science Daily