chromosome
chro·mo·some
noun \ˈkrō-mə-ˌsōm, -ˌzōm\Definition of CHROMOSOME
: any of the rod-shaped or threadlike DNA-containing structures of cellular organisms that are located in the nucleus of eukaryotes, are usually ring-shaped in prokaryotes (as bacteria), and contain all or most of the genes of the organism; also : the genetic material of a virus — compare chromatin
— chro·mo·som·al \ˌkrō-mə-ˈsō-məl, -ˈzō-\ adjective
— chro·mo·som·al·ly \-mə-lē\ adverb
See Origin of CHROMOSOME
International Scientific Vocabulary
First Known Use: 1889
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