heterochromatin

[ het-er-uh-kroh-muh-tin ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Genetics.

heterochromatin

/ ˌhɛtərəʊˈkrəʊmətɪn /

the condensed part of a chromosome that stains strongly with basic dyes in nondividing cells and has little genetic activity Compare euchromatin

First recorded in 1930–35; hetero- + chromatin

Large portions of the DNA in the nucleus are classified as heterochromatin because they are more compact and generally not expressed as proteins.

These droplets can fuse with each other, possibly providing a mechanism for compacting heterochromatin inside the nucleus.

Collectively those inactive, tightly guarded parts of the genome are known as heterochromatin.

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