ScienceAugust 25, 2026
karyotype
KAIR-ee-uh-type
Definition
The complete set of chromosomes present in the cell nuclei of an organism, often represented as a standardized diagram or photograph.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek words 'karyon' (meaning 'nut' or 'kernel,' used to refer to the cell nucleus) and 'typos' (meaning 'type' or 'form'). It was coined in the early 20th century to describe the observable physical characteristics of an organism's chromosome set.
In the news
In this article, scientists reconstructed the 'ancestral karyotype' of the banana family to map how chromosome numbers changed throughout the species' evolution. This framework allows researchers to better understand genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships.
Scientists unlock 'ancestral code' of banana family
Read the full article ↗Phys.org