chromosome

n. A roughly rod shaped structure in the nucleus of cells containing deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) which is the genetic blueprint for cell function and body growth. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, which contain more than 33,000 individual genes, each of which is involved with the formation of a particular set of proteins within cells. Each individual in sexually reproducing organisms receives half of its chromosomes, one of each pair, from each of its parents.