What does chromosome mean?
Word: Chromosome
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Chromosome means one of the tiny thread-like parts inside a living cell that carry the instructions for how that living thing grows.
How do you spell chromosome?
Syllables: chro - mo - some
Tricky part: The opening k sound is spelt ch, so pupils who spell by ear write cromosome or kromosome.
Watch out for: cromosome, kromosome
Memory tip: Picture c and h as lab partners sharing one bench at the front of the word: they make the k sound together.
Chromosome in a sentence
Example 1: Each chromosome is far too small to see without a microscope.
Example 2: Genes are arranged along a chromosome a little like beads on a string.
Example 3: Our science book shows a chromosome as a small X shape.
Fun Fact
The name means coloured body in Greek, because early scientists saw these tiny structures soak up dye under the microscope. Most human cells hold 46 of them.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
chr_m_some
a) u, o
b) o, o
c) o, e
d) a, o
Show answer
b) o, o. Both gaps take the same round vowel.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Our biology teacher drew a chromosone on the board and labelled its two arms.
a) chromosone
b) biology
c) board
d) labelled
Show answer
a) chromosone. The word ends in some, as in the word handsome.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
osmocerhmo
a) microscope
b) monochrome
c) chromosome
d) chlorinate
Show answer
c) chromosome. The jumble has three o's and two m's but no n, p or l.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the correctly spelt word:
a) protien
b) chromosome
c) mitocondria
d) nucleous
Show answer
b) chromosome. Mitochondria has an h after the c, nucleus ends in eus, and protein has ei.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Where in a plant or animal cell would you look for a chromosome?
a) among the root hairs
b) inside the nucleus
c) in the cell membrane
d) on the cell wall
Show answer
b) inside the nucleus
2. What does a chromosome pass from parents to their young?
a) learnt skills
b) inherited traits
c) daily habits
d) spoken language
Show answer
b) inherited traits
