---
title: chromosome — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «chromosome» in the school dictionary: A chromosome is a tiny thread-like structure inside the centre (nucleus) of a living cell, made of DNA, which carries the instructions (genes) for how a living thing grows and works. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# chromosome

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** chromosome, DNA, living thing, Humans, 23 pairs, Chromosomes · **What happens:** be, make, carry, grow, work, have · **To what, where:** tiny like structure, centre, instructions, 46 chromosomes, cell, nucleus

<!-- .vabout -->
«chromosome» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [chromosome in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/chromosome.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A chromosome is a tiny thread-like structure inside the centre (nucleus) of a living cell, made of DNA, which carries the instructions (genes) for how a living thing grows and works.

<!-- fold The tree, 32 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chromosome:m1:1
# text = A chromosome is a tiny thread-like structure inside the centre (nucleus) of a living cell, made of DNA, which carries the instructions (genes) for how a living thing grows and works.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chromosome	chromosome	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
6	thread	thread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	like	like	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	structure	structure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	centre	centre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	nucleus	nucleus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
22	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
25	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	26	nsubj	_	_
26	carries	carry	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	acl:relcl	_	_
27	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	26	obj	_	_
29	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	30	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	genes	gene	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	28	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	30	punct	_	_
32	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	37	mark	_	_
33	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	37	advmod	_	_
34	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	36	det	_	_
35	living	living	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	36	amod	_	_
36	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	37	nsubj	_	_
37	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	26	advcl	_	_
38	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	39	cc	_	_
39	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	37	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
40	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a chromosome | a tiny like structure |  | the centre of a living cell |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a tiny like structure *not said here* |  |  |  | of DNA | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **carry** | present | DNA | the instructions |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent instruction=Theme |
| 4 | **grow** | present | a living thing |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **work** | present | a living thing *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Humans usually have 46 chromosomes in each cell, in 23 pairs: one of each pair comes from the mother and one from the father.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chromosome:m2:1
# text = Humans usually have 46 chromosomes in each cell, in 23 pairs: one of each pair comes from the mother and one from the father.
1	Humans	human	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	46	46	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	chromosomes	chromosome	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	23	23	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	pairs	pair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
14	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	appos	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	17	det	_	_
17	pair	pair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	_
18	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
19	from	from	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	21	conj	_	_
24	from	from	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Humans | 46 chromosomes |  | each cell |  | usually *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chromosome=Patient |
| 2 | **come** | present | 23 pairs |  |  |  |  | from the mother | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from mother=Initial\_Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chromosomes are inside the nucleus of a cell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chromosome:x1:1
# text = Chromosomes are inside the nucleus of a cell.
1	Chromosomes	chromosome	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	nucleus	nucleus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Chromosomes |  |  | the nucleus |  | of a cell | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People usually have 23 pairs of chromosomes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chromosome:x2:1
# text = People usually have 23 pairs of chromosomes.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	23	23	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	pairs	pair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	chromosomes	chromosome	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | People | 23 pairs of chromosomes |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pair=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each chromosome carries many genes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chromosome:x3:1
# text = Each chromosome carries many genes.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	chromosome	chromosome	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	carries	carry	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	genes	gene	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | present | each chromosome | many genes |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gene=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You get half your chromosomes from each parent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chromosome:x4:1
# text = You get half your chromosomes from each parent.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	get	get	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	half	half	DET	PDT	NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac|PronType=Ind	5	det:predet	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	chromosomes	chromosome	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	parent	parent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present | You | your chromosomes |  |  |  | from each parent | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent chromosome=Theme from parent=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People with Down syndrome have an extra copy of chromosome 21.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chromosome:x5:1
# text = People with Down syndrome have an extra copy of chromosome 21.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	Down	Down	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	syndrome	syndrome	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	copy	copy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	chromosome	chromosome	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	21	21	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | People with Down syndrome | a extra copy of chromosome |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent copy=Patient |
| 2 | **copy** |  |  | chromosome |  |  |  |  | nom copy «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We looked at a picture of chromosomes under a microscope.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chromosome:x6:1
# text = We looked at a picture of chromosomes under a microscope.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	chromosomes	chromosome	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	under	under	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	microscope	microscope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | We |  |  |  |  | at a picture of chromosomes under a microscope | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at picture=Theme |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

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