Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A complex of nucleic acids and proteins, primarily histones, in the cell nucleus that stains readily with basic dyes and condenses to form chromosomes during cell division.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. In bot, a name proposed for that portion of the substance of the nucleus which is readily colored by staining agents.
- n. In zoology, that portion of the substance of an ovum which has a special affinity for coloring matter and readily becomes colored; chromophilous protoplasm, which in the process of maturation of the ovum forms various colored figures, as disks and threads: the opposite of achromatin.
- n. In cytology, that portion of the cell-nucleus in animals and plants which takes on a deep color in certain stains (carmine, hematoxylin, etc.): opposed to achromatin.
Wiktionary
- n. biology A complex of DNA, RNA and proteins within the cell nucleus out of which chromosomes condense during cell division.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. (Biol.), archaic Tissue which is capable of being stained by dyes.
- n. (Biol.) The deeply staining substance of the nucleus and chromosomes of eukaryotic cells, composed of DNA and basic proteins (such as histones), the DNA of which comprises the predominant physical basis of inheritance. It was, at the beginning of the 20th century, supposed to be the same substance as was then termed
idioplasm orgerm plasm . In most eukaryotic cells, there is also DNA in certain plasmids, such as mitochondria, or (in plant cells) chloroplasts; but with the exception of these cytoplasmic genetic factors, the nuclear DNA of thechromatin is believed to contain all the genetic information required to code for the development of an adult organism. In the interphase nucleus the chromosomes are dispersed, but during cell division or meiosis they are condensed into the individually recognizable chromosomes. The set of chromosomes, or a photographic representation of the full set of chromosomes of a cell (often ordered for presentation) is called a karyotype.
WordNet 3.0
- n. the readily stainable substance of a cell nucleus consisting of DNA and RNA and various proteins; during mitotic division it condenses into chromosomes
Etymologies
- From German Chromatin, from (combining form of) Ancient Greek χρῶμα ("colour") + -in. (Wiktionary)
Examples
“Attention has accordingly been directed to the deeply-staining granules mentioned above, and the term chromatin-granules has been applied to them, and they have been considered to represent a rudimentary nucleus.”
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 2 "Baconthorpe" to "Bankruptcy"
“There is evidence of complex quantum electrodynamic operations in chromatin – the form of DNA operative when the cell isn't replicating (thus dividing its DNA into chromosomes).”
“Rather, the DNA in chromatin must be wrapped on the outside of the histone octamer.”
“This and the stoichiometry of the tetramer implied a unit of structure in chromatin based on two each of the four histones, or an (H2A) 2 (H2B) 2 (H3) 2 (H4) 2 octamer.”
“It is, however, evident that this action on chromatin is most important for proper functioning of the genome and for maintenance of genome integrity.”
Advanced Information: The 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
“There's a "biology teacher" who doesn't know what chromatin is (and never heard of a histone code), a "physics teacher" who never got past Newtonian mechanics, a "theologian" who has no idea how Jews and orthodox Christians view Genesis I and II, etc., etc.”
“There's a "biology teacher" who doesn't know what chromatin is (and never heard of a histone code),”
“I was studying the structure of genes in chromatin and had the good fortune of participating in a revolution made possible by recombinant DNA technology.”
“The DNA-protein complex of cell nuclei, chromatin, is condensed to chromosomes during cell division.”
“In non-dividing cells, DNA is associated with proteins to form the so-called chromatin, with more condensed “heterochromatin” at the periphery and less condensed “euchromatin” in the interior.”
Secret To Night Vision Found In DNA’s Unconventional ‘Architecture’ | Impact Lab
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘chromatin’.
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Substancestry
Mysterious and theoretical substances and "stuff" of legend. More emphasis on the ancient, mystical, mythical, folklore, mathematical, and scientific. I won't be listing too many "sci-fi" or comed...
ylem, ichor, aether, ectoplasm, impossible object, quark star, eucharist, pixie dust, eitr, elixir of life, philosopher's stone, alkahest and 126 more...
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Logolepsy
"Luciferous Logolepsy is a collection of over 9,000 obscure English words. Though the definition of an 'English' word might seem to be straightforward, it is not. There exist so many adopted, deriv...
Anschauung, Areopagus, Argus, Briarean, Dei gratia, Dei judicium, Deo volente, Duecento, Foehn, Geflugelte Worte, Gegenschein, Hakenkreuz and 9230 more...
Tweets
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