Barr body

[ bahr ]
/ bɑr /

noun

a condensed, inactivated X chromosome present in most female mammals in the nuclei of all cells except the germ cells: used, as in sports competitions, to verify that an individual is genetically female.
Also called sex chromatin.

Origin of Barr body

1960–65; after Murray L. Barr (born 1908), Canadian physician

Medical definitions for barr body

Barr body
[ bär ]

n.

The condensed, inactive, single X-chromosome found in the nuclei of somatic cells of most female mammals and whose presence is the basis of sex determination tests that are performed, for example, on athletes. sex chromatin