noun
- A threadlike structure within a chromosome, visible under a microscope, that represents a coiled strand of DNA and protein.
Usage: biology; cytology; technical term
Examples
- Under high magnification, the chromonema becomes visible as a fine filament within the chromosome.
- The chromonema is composed of DNA wrapped around histone proteins.
- During cell division, the chromonema condenses further to form the characteristic X-shaped chromosome.
- Early cytologists observed the chromonema as a fundamental unit of chromosome structure.
- The chromonema's organization is crucial for understanding gene expression and inheritance.