B chromosome

noun

variants also B-chromosome
: a small, usually heterochromatic chromosome present in addition to the normal complement of chromosomes in some members of a species

Note: B chromosomes do not contain any structural genes and have a highly variable pattern of inheritance separate from that of the normal chromosomal complement. They are most often found in plants and invertebrates.

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Cite this Entry

“B chromosome.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/B%20chromosome. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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