A chromosome is a tiny thread inside every living cell. On that thread sit the genes — the instructions that help decide a plant’s or animal’s size, shape, and many other traits.

A chromosome is a tiny thread染色體是一條細小的線 inside every living cell在每個活細胞裡。On that thread sit the genes這條線上有基因——the instructions that help decide a plant's or animal's size, shape, and many other traits也就是幫忙決定植物或動物的大小、形狀和許多其他特徵的指令。

Humans have chromosomes in pairs; you get one set from each parent. You cannot see them with your eyes. Scientists stain them so they show up under a microscope — and that staining is why the name has “colour” in its roots.

Humans have chromosomes in pairs人類的染色體是成對的；you get one set from each parent你會從父母各得到一套。You cannot see them with your eyes你沒辦法用肉眼看到它們。Scientists stain them科學家會替它們染色 so they show up under a microscope好讓它們在顯微鏡下顯現出來——and that staining is why the name has 'colour' in its roots這個染色的過程，也是這個字的字根裡有『顏色』的原因。

It is a school-biology word, used in the same way by doctors and by textbooks. People sometimes say “it’s in your chromosomes” to mean “you were born that way”; that is a loose, everyday stretch of a precise science word.

It is a school-biology word這是學校生物課的字，used in the same way by doctors and by textbooks醫生和教科書也是這樣用。People sometimes say 'it's in your chromosomes'有些人會說『it's in your chromosomes』 to mean 'you were born that way'來表示『你生來就是這樣』；that is a loose, everyday stretch of a precise science word這是把一個精確的科學詞彙鬆散地延伸到日常用法。