1. A densely staining region of the nucleus in certain cells, formed by the aggregation of heterochromatin from multiple chromosomes.
Usage: biology; cytology; technical term

Examples

• The chromocenter is particularly prominent in the salivary gland cells of Drosophila larvae.
• Researchers observed the chromocenter under the microscope as a dark-staining structure in the nucleus.
• The formation of a chromocenter involves the clustering of pericentromeric heterochromatin.
• In some organisms, the chromocenter serves as a site of gene silencing.
• The chromocenter's size and position can vary depending on the cell type and developmental stage.