telocentric
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: 1. Having the centromere at the very end: Describes a chromosome whose centromere (the point where the two chromatids are joined) is located at one terminal end, giving the chromosome a straight, rod-like shape rather than the more common V or J shapes.
Usage
The term is used almost exclusively in the fields of genetics, cytogenetics, and cell biology to describe a specific type of chromosome structure. - It is typically used attributively (before a noun) to modify words like "chromosome." - It describes a morphological characteristic observed during cell division (metaphase) when chromosomes are most visible.
Examples
- In a scientific context:
- The karyotype revealed several telocentric chromosomes.
- In some species, all chromosomes are telocentric.
- Researchers studied the mutation's effect on the telocentric chromosome.
Advanced Usage
- Comparative Forms: While rare in everyday language, the comparative "more telocentric" and superlative "most telocentric" can be used in technical discussions comparing chromosome morphology.
- Chromosome 2 is more telocentric than chromosome 5 in this population.
Variants and Related Words
- Telocentrism (noun): The state or condition of being telocentric.
- The telocentrism of the chromosomes is a key identifying feature.
- Acrocentric (adjective): Describes a chromosome with the centromere near, but not at, the end. This is a related but distinct morphological type.
- Metacentric (adjective): Describes a chromosome with the centromere in the middle.
- Submetacentric (adjective): Describes a chromosome with the centromere between the middle and the end.
Synonyms
- Terminocentric: A less common synonym used in some technical literature.
Antonyms
- Metacentric: Having a centrally located centromere.
- Submetacentric: Having a centromere located between the center and the end.
Adjective
- having the form of a straight rod because the centromere is in a terminal position
- a telocentric chromosome