chromosome number

noun

: the usually constant number of chromosomes characteristic of a particular kind of animal or plant

Examples of chromosome number in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Because of the difference in chromosome number, the tetrapoid couldn't mate with either of its parent species, but it wasn't prevented from reproducing with fellow accidents. Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 19 Dec. 2011 The site of the fusion event on human chromosome number two does not provide an obvious picture of a past fusion event. Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 22 July 2012 By 2011, Boeke and his colleagues could report success in building one arm of a chromosome, chromosome number nine. David Biello, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2014 Unlike other botanical atlases that focused on botanical classification, this atlas recorded the chromosome number of about 100,000 plants, providing knowledge about breeding and evolutionary patterns of botanical groups. Leila McNeill, Smithsonian, 1 Aug. 2019 One result that’s emerged is a relationship between these timing parameters and chromosome number — too fast or too slow correlates perceptibly with embryos having the wrong number of chromosomes. Quanta Magazine, 15 Oct. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chromosome number.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chromosome number was in 1910

Dictionary Entries Near chromosome number

Cite this Entry

“Chromosome number.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chromosome%20number. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

chromosome number

noun
: the number of chromosomes in a cell that is usually constant in the cells making up the body of a particular kind of plant or animal

Medical Definition

chromosome number

noun
: the usually constant number of chromosomes characteristic of a particular kind of animal or plant

More from Merriam-Webster on chromosome number

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!