Definition of Heterochromatin

1. Noun. (cytology) Heterochromatic tightly coiled chromosome material; believed to be genetically inactive ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Heterochromatin

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Heterochromatin

1. The chromosomal regions that are condensed during interphase and at the time of nuclear division. They show what is considered an abnormal pattern of staining as opposed to euchromatin. Can be subdivided into constitutive regions (present in all cells) and facultative heterochromatin (present in some cells only). The inactive X chromosome of female mammals is an example of facultative heterochromatin. This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Heterochromatin

heterocentrisms
heterocephalous
heterocephalus
heterocera
heterocerc
heterocercal
heterocercal fin
heterocercs
heterocercy
heterochain
heterochains
heterocheiral
heterochlamydeous
heterochroma iridium
heterochromatic
heterochromatin (current term)
heterochromatinic
heterochromatinisation
heterochromatinization
heterochromia
heterochromia iridis
heterochromias
heterochromic cyclitis
heterochromic uveitis
heterochromous
heterochron
heterochronia
heterochronic
heterochronous

Literary usage of Heterochromatin

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Lifelong Passion: Nicholas and Alexandra: Their Own Story by Andrei Maylunas (2005)
"The frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) were scored in relation to constitutive heterochromatin in 100 patients ..."

2. Gene Transfer in Animal Systems: Bibliography, 1985-1991 (1993)
"The deduced sequence of the Pc protein exhibits a homology to the heterochromatin-associated protein HP1 encoded by the suppressor of position effect ..."

3. Mammalian Models for Research on Aging by Bennett J. Cohen, Institute Of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council Staff (1981)
"1973. Chromosomes of Peromyscus (Rodentia, Cricetidae). IV. The role of heterochromatin in karyotypic evolution. Cyto- genet. Cell Genet. 12:315-326. ..."

4. Selected Proceedings of the Sheffield Symposium on Applied Probability by Ishwar V. Basawa, Robert Lee Taylor (1991)
"Dennis and Peacock (1984) have DNA sequences for 11 repeats of a 180bp segment in knob heterochromatin, which is a family with up to 106 tandem repeats in ..."

5. Migratory Fishes of South America: Biology, Fisheries and Conservation Status by Joachim Carolsfeld (2003)
"heterochromatin patterns and karyotype relationships within and between the genera Brycon and Salminus (Pisces, Characidae). Genetics and Molecular Biology, ..."

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