heterochromatin
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Related to heterochromatin: Facultative heterochromatin, Constitutive heterochromatin
heterochromatin
[het″er-o-kro´mah-tin]that state of chromatin in which it is dark-staining, genetically inactive, and tightly coiled.
constitutive heterochromatin the chromatin in regions of the chromosomes that are invariably heterochromatic; it contains highly repetitive sequences of DNA that are genetically inactive and serves as a structural element of the chromosome.
facultative heterochromatin the chromatin in regions of the chromosomes that become heterochromatic in certain cells and tissues; for example, it makes up the inactive X chromosome in female somatic cells.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
het·er·o·chro·ma·tin
(het'ĕr-ō-krō'mă-tin),The part of the chromonema that remains tightly coiled and condensed during interphase and thus stains readily.
Synonym(s): heteropyknotic chromatin
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
heterochromatin
(hĕt′ə-rō-krō′mə-tĭn)n.
Tightly coiled chromosomal material that stains deeply during interphase and is believed to be genetically inactive.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
het·er·o·chro·ma·tin
(het'ĕr-ō-krō'mă-tin)The part of the chromonema that remains tightly coiled and condensed during interphase and thus stains readily.
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
heterochromatin
A length of chromatin in the genome that is permanently highly condensed and whose DNA is not transcribed.Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005
heterochromatin
any chromosomal segments or whole chromosomes that appear darkly stained during interphase of the CELL CYCLE (as compared to EUCHROMATIN) due to tight condensation, which may indicate genetic inactivity. Hetero chromatin may be condensed at all times (constitutive) or only at certain times (facultative). see C-BANDING.Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005