Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words

Barr body

play
noun \ ˈbär- \

Definition of Barr body

:a densely staining inactivated condensed X chromosome that is present in each somatic cell of most female mammals and is used as a test of genetic femaleness (as in a fetus) — called also sex chromatin

People Are Reading

alt-59c2960017c94
The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'
stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!
image536372841
Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes
video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Origin and Etymology of barr body

Murray Llewellyn Barr †1995 Canadian anatomist

Medical Dictionary

Barr body

play
noun \ ˈbär- \

medical Definition of Barr body

:a densely staining inactivated condensed X chromosome that is present in each somatic cell of most female mammals and is used as a test of genetic femaleness (as in a fetus or an athlete) — called also sex chromatin

Biographical Note for barr body

  • Barr, Murray Llewellyn (1908–1995), Canadian anatomist. A professor of microanatomy, Barr specialized in cytological research, especially as it applies to genetically determined anomalies of sex determination and development, cancer, and mental illness. His most notable work dealt with sex chromatin, now known as the Barr body. In 1949 he noted that females had in the nuclei of their nerve cells a mass of chromatin that males did not. Further study revealed that this sex difference in the nuclei of resting cells is found in most mammals.

    • Learn More about barr body

    1. See words that rhyme with Barr body Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Barr body

    Seen and Heard

    What made you want to look up Barr body? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

    show hide

    Love words? Need even more definitions?

    Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

    WORD OF THE DAY

    holus-bolus

    play

    all at once

    Get Word of the Day daily email!

    TRENDING NOW

    1. otherwise "in other respects"

    2. federalism Graham says bill gives power to states

    3. bodega "Don’t mess with the beloved bodega."

    4. carceral Of, relating to, or suggesting a jail or prison

    5. allegory No spoilers!

    SEE ALL

    BROWSE DICTIONARY

    Barr body

    Test Your Vocabulary

    Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

    • stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
    • Which is a synonym of fuliginous?
    Name That Thing

    Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

    TAKE THE QUIZ
    SCRABBLE® Sprint

    Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

    TAKE THE QUIZ

    Love words? Need even more definitions?

    Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

    Words at Play

    alt-59c2960017c94
    The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'

    When you push a meeting, where does it go?

    image536372841
    Silent Letters

    When each letter can be seen but not heard

    alt-59c17b8172892
    'So Long': A Common But Mysterious Goodbye

    Its origins are surprisingly murky.

    alt-59c13729150dc
    "Immune to" or "Immune from"?

    Nobody is immune to this question.

    Ask the Editors

    video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
    Words of the Year: 1066

    Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

    payday
    How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

    Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

    video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
    Irregardless

    It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

    video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
    Weird Plurals

    One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

    Word Games

    stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
    Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

    No tricks, just difficult words.

    Take the quiz
    name-that-color-logo
    Name that Color!

    NEW! Additional colors! More obscure than before!

    Take the quiz
    Name That Thing
    Name That Thing

    Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

    Take the quiz
    SCRABBLE® Sprint
    SCRABBLE® Sprint

    SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

    Play the game