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- Word comparison: chromatin vs. chromosome
chromatin vs. chromosome
chromatin vs. chromosome: ’s the difference?
Chromatin is a substance found in the cell nucleus that’s composed primarily of DNA and proteins. When cells divide, chromatin condenses to form chromosomes, threadlike structures that consist of a single molecule of DNA. The chromosome is what carries the genes (in humans, it holds 23 pairs of genes).
noun
Cell Biology.
- the readily stainable substance of a cell nucleus, consisting of DNA, RNA, and various proteins, that forms chromosomes during cell division.
noun
Genetics.
- any of several threadlike bodies, consisting of chromatin, that carry the genes in a linear order: the human species has 23 pairs, designated 1 to 22 in order of decreasing size and X and Y for the sex-determining chromosomes. X chromosome ( def ), Y chromosome ( def ).