chromonema

[ kroh-muh-nee-muh ]
/ ˌkroʊ məˈni mə /

noun, plural chro·mo·ne·ma·ta [kroh-muh-nee-muh-tuh] /ˌkroʊ məˈni mə tə/. Genetics.

a chromosome thread that is relatively uncoiled at early prophase but assumes a spiral form at metaphase.

Origin of chromonema

1920–25; chromo- + Greek nêma thread

OTHER WORDS FROM chromonema

chro·mo·ne·mat·ic [kroh-muh-nuh-mat-ik, -nee-] /ˌkroʊ mə nəˈmæt ɪk, -ni-/, adjective

Words nearby chromonema

chromolithograph, chromolithography, chromolysis, chromomere, chromomycosis, chromonema, chromophil, chromophil adenoma, chromophilia, chromophobe, chromophobe adenoma

British Dictionary definitions for chromonema

chromonema
/ (ˌkrəʊməˈniːmə) /

noun plural -mata (-mətə) cytology

the coiled mass of threads visible within a nucleus at the start of cell division
a coiled chromatin thread within a single chromosome

Derived forms of chromonema

chromonemal, chromonematic (ˌkrəʊməʊnɪˈmætɪk) or chromonemic, adjective

Word Origin for chromonema

C20: from chromo- + Greek nēma thread, yarn

Medical definitions for chromonema

chromonema
[ krō′mə-nē′mə ]

n. pl. chro•mo•ne•ma•ta (-mə-tə)

The coiled filament that extends the entire length of a chromosome and on which the genes are located.