Phrase guide

Barr body

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A sex chromosome inactivated by packing in heterochromatin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, natural-sciences

Examples

  • Men with Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY karyotype) have a single Barr body, whereas women with a 47,XXX karyotype have two Barr bodies.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Named after discoverer Murray Barr.