acentric chromosome

a·cen·tric chro·mo·some

a fragment of a chromosome lacking a centromere and unable to attach to the mitotic spindle; therefore unable to take part in the division of a nucleus and randomly distributed in daughter cells.

Synonym(s): acentric fragment

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

Acentric Chromosome

A chromosome lacking a centromere, a structure which is essential for cell division and retention of the chromosome in the cell.

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

acentric chromosome

A chromosome lacking a centromere, which is essential for division and retention of the chromosome in the cell

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

acentric chromosome

a chromosome formed by the joining of two broken pieces of chromosomes that lack CENTROMERES; the acentric chromosome is lost at the next division. Compare METACENTRIC CHROMOSOME.

Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005