centromere
noun
cen·tro·mere
ˈsen-trə-ˌmir 
: the point or region on a chromosome to which the spindle (see spindle entry 1 sense 2) attaches during mitosis and meiosis
Examples of centromere in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Altemose plans on using the complete genome to explore a particularly mysterious region in each chromosome known as the centromere.
—
Carl Zimmer New York Times, Star Tribune, 24 July 2021
Adam Phillippy and his team at NHGRI deserve special credit for their focused work to resolve the sequences of the ribosomal DNA arrays on each of the five acrocentric chromosomes, where the centromere is much closer to one end than to the center.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 Sep. 2021
In their first look, Altemose and his colleagues were struck by how different centromere regions can be from one person to another.
—Carl Zimmer New York Times, Star Tribune, 24 July 2021
In their first look, Dr. Altemose and his colleagues were struck by how different centromere regions can be from one person to another.
—New York Times, 23 July 2021
Chromosomes, of which humans have 23 pairs, each consist of a long, continuous stretch of DNA that can be condensed into a rod shape; the DNA at the centromere is particularly dense.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 11 June 2021
But on five of the 23 total human chromosomes, the centromere is not precisely in the middle, instead favoring one end over the other, per the Atlantic.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2021
These sequencers still can’t handle chunks big enough to cross an entire centromere or a short arm, but at least the algorithms have larger puzzle pieces to assemble.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 11 June 2021
On five human chromosomes, the centromere is not in the middle but very close to one end, dividing the chromosome into one long and one very short arm.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 11 June 2021
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Carl Zimmer New York Times, Star Tribune, 24 July 2021
Adam Phillippy and his team at NHGRI deserve special credit for their focused work to resolve the sequences of the ribosomal DNA arrays on each of the five acrocentric chromosomes, where the centromere is much closer to one end than to the center.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 Sep. 2021
In their first look, Altemose and his colleagues were struck by how different centromere regions can be from one person to another.
—Carl Zimmer New York Times, Star Tribune, 24 July 2021
In their first look, Dr. Altemose and his colleagues were struck by how different centromere regions can be from one person to another.
—New York Times, 23 July 2021
Chromosomes, of which humans have 23 pairs, each consist of a long, continuous stretch of DNA that can be condensed into a rod shape; the DNA at the centromere is particularly dense.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 11 June 2021
But on five of the 23 total human chromosomes, the centromere is not precisely in the middle, instead favoring one end over the other, per the Atlantic.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2021
These sequencers still can’t handle chunks big enough to cross an entire centromere or a short arm, but at least the algorithms have larger puzzle pieces to assemble.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 11 June 2021
On five human chromosomes, the centromere is not in the middle but very close to one end, dividing the chromosome into one long and one very short arm.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 11 June 2021
Cite this Entry
“Centromere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/centromere. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
centromere
noun
cen·tro·mere
ˈsen-trə-ˌmi(ə)r
: the point on a chromosome to which the spindle attaches during cell division
Medical Definition
centromere
noun
cen·tro·mere
ˈsen-trə-ˌmi(ə)r
: the point or region on a chromosome to which the spindle attaches during mitosis and meiosis
called also kinetochore
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