adjective
- not located on or transmitted by chromosomes; relating to genetic material outside the nucleus, such as mitochondrial or chloroplast DNA
Usage: technical; biology
Examples
- Mitochondrial DNA is a nonchromosomal form of genetic material found in the cytoplasm.
- Some traits are inherited through nonchromosomal inheritance patterns rather than Mendelian genetics.
- Chloroplast genes represent a nonchromosomal genetic system in plant cells.
- The researchers studied nonchromosomal mutations in the organism's mitochondria.
- Nonchromosomal inheritance can complicate genetic predictions in pedigree analysis.