1. Loosely packed chromatin that is transcriptionally active and contains genes that are expressed; the form of chromatin that is accessible to transcription factors and RNA polymerase.
Usage: biology; genetics; technical term

Examples

• Euchromatin appears lighter under the microscope because its DNA is less densely packed.
• Genes located in euchromatin regions are typically more easily transcribed than those in heterochromatin.
• During cell division, euchromatin remains relatively open to allow continued gene expression.
• Scientists use histone modifications to identify euchromatin regions in the genome.
• The transition from euchromatin to heterochromatin is an important mechanism of gene regulation.