染色体(せんしょくたい)

染色体(せんしょくたい) refers to the thread-like structures in cell nuclei that carry genetic information.

ETYMOLOGY:
染色(せんしょく) (staining) + 体(たい) (body). Named because these structures are easily stained with dyes for microscopic observation.

KEY FACTS:

• Humans have 46 染色体(せんしょくたい) (23 pairs)
• 22 pairs of 常染色体(じょうせんしょくたい): autosomes
• 1 pair of 性染色体(せいせんしょくたい): sex chromosomes (XX or XY)

RELATED TERMS:

• 遺伝子(いでんし): gene
• 細胞(さいぼう): cell
• DNA (ディーエヌエー): DNA
• 突然変異(とつぜんへんい): mutation

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

• 染色体(せんしょくたい)異常(いじょう): chromosomal abnormality
• 染色体(せんしょくたい)検査(けんさ): chromosomal testing