acrocentric

views updated May 18 2018

acrocentric Applied to a chromosome with a centromere located nearer one end than the other. During the anaphase stage of cell division, movement of an acrocentric chromosome towards one pole results in the chromosome being shaped like a ‘J’, as opposed to the normal ‘V’ shape of a metacentric chromosome (in which the centromere is in the middle).

acrocentric

views updated Jun 08 2018

acrocentric Applied to a chromosome in which the centromere is located nearer to one end than to the other. During the anaphase stage of cell division, movement of an acrocentric chromosome towards one pole results in the chromosome being shaped like a ‘J’, as opposed to the normal ‘V’ shape of a metacentric chromosome (in which the centromere is in the middle).

acrocentric

views updated May 11 2018

acrocentric (ak-roh-sen-trik) n. a chromosome in which the centromere is situated at or very near one end.
acrocentric adj.

acrocentric

views updated May 17 2018

acrocentric See centromere.