Barr body

English

Etymology

Named after discoverer Murray Barr.

Noun

Barr body (plural Barr bodies)

1. (biology) A sex chromosome inactivated by packing in heterochromatin.

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

See also

• lyonization