Word
chromatin
Phoneticschro·matin
UK/kɹˈəʊmɐtˌɪn/
Definition
n. the material that makes up the chromosomes in a cell. It is a mix of DNA and proteins that help keep the genetic information organized.
n. the complex of DNA and proteins that forms the chromosomes within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. It exists in two forms: euchromatin, which is less condensed and transcriptionally active, and heterochromatin, which is more condensed and transcriptionally silent.
Examples
“Chromatin condenses into chromosomes during cell division.”
“The structure of chromatin allows the long DNA molecules to fit inside the tiny nucleus of a cell.”
“Epigenetic modifications to the histone proteins within chromatin can alter gene expression without changing the underlying DNA sequence, effectively turning genes on or off as needed.”
Examples
simple
“Chromatin condenses into chromosomes during cell division.”
contextual
“The structure of chromatin allows the long DNA molecules to fit inside the tiny nucleus of a cell.”
complex
“Epigenetic modifications to the histone proteins within chromatin can alter gene expression without changing the underlying DNA sequence, effectively turning genes on or off as needed.”
Real-World Examples
“The new findings suggest that changes in chromatin, the material made of DNA and associated proteins that packages the genome inside cells, should also be considered part of the disease's molecular landscape.” “It includes large compartments (like separate binders of the manual), domains (like paragraphs), and chromatin loops (like folding a page so two distant sentences touch).” Etymology
Borrowed from German Chromatin, from (combining form of) Ancient Greek χρῶμα (khrôma, “colour”) + -ινος (-inos, “made of”). Analyzable as chromatic (“of colour”) + -in (“substance”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/chromatin