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Definition of: chromosome
(krō′mə·sōm) noun Biol.
One of the deeply staining, rod- or loop-shaped bodies into which the chromatin of the cell nucleus divides during mitosis, generally of a fixed number for any given species: regarded as a carrier of the genes or units of heredity. See HAPLOID, POLYPLOID.
—accessory chromosome A chromosome of which the shape, size, and purpose differ from those of other chromosomes of the same cell. [<CHROMO-+ -SOME2]
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