How to Pronounce Philadelphia Chromosome
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Philadelphia Chromosome Pronunciation
fil-ah-DEL-fee-ah KROH-moh-sohm
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
fil
ah
DEL
stress here
fee
ah KROH
moh
sohm
7 syllables
What is Philadelphia Chromosome?
An abnormal chromosome formed when parts of chromosomes 9 and 22 swap places (translocation), creating a fusion gene called BCR-ABL that drives abnormal cell growth. It is found in virtually all cases of chronic myeloid leukemia and in some acute leukemias.
Questions About Philadelphia Chromosome
How do you pronounce Philadelphia Chromosome?
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Say it like this: fil-ah-DEL-fee-ah KROH-moh-sohm. The stress (the part you say loudest) falls on the third syllable: DEL. Think of it as three chunks—Philadelphia (fil-ah-DEL-fee-ah), then Chromosome (KROH-moh-sohm)—and you've got it right.
What is the stressed syllable in Philadelphia Chromosome?
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The stressed syllable is DEL, which is the third syllable of Philadelphia. A common mistake is stressing the first syllable and saying FIL-ah-del-fee-ah, but that's incorrect. Remember: fil-ah-**DEL**-fee-ah.
How do you break Philadelphia Chromosome into syllables?
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Philadelphia breaks into five syllables: fil-a-DEL-phi-a. Chromosome breaks into three syllables: CHRO-mo-some. Put them together and you have eight syllables total: fil-a-DEL-phi-a CHRO-mo-some.
What does the word chromosome mean?
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A chromosome is a structure inside cells that carries genes and DNA. The word comes from two Greek roots: chromo- meaning 'color' (because they show up as colored structures under a microscope) and -some meaning 'body.' So chromosome literally means 'colored body.'
Why is it called the Philadelphia Chromosome?
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It's named after Philadelphia because scientists at the University of Pennsylvania first discovered it there in 1960. The name honors the city where this important discovery was made. The city name stays capitalized because it's part of the proper name of this specific chromosomal change.
What does Philadelphia Chromosome mean in simple terms?
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The Philadelphia Chromosome is an abnormal piece of DNA created when parts of two different chromosomes swap places with each other. Instead of two normal, separate chromosomes, the cell ends up with one mixed chromosome that doesn't work the way it should.
Is there a short way to write or say Philadelphia Chromosome?
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Yes, doctors often abbreviate it as Ph or Ph+ (the plus sign means it's present). You say Ph like the letters 'P' and 'H' separately, or sometimes you'll see it written as 'Philadelphia positive' to mean the same thing.
What related words share the root chromo- or -some?
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Other medical words with these roots include chromosome (the main word), autosome (a type of chromosome), and monosome (a single chromosome). All of these words use the same Greek roots to describe structures and bodies within cells.
Can you use Philadelphia Chromosome in a sentence?
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Here's an example: 'The lab test showed that the patient's cells contained the Philadelphia Chromosome, which helped doctors understand what type of condition was present.' This sentence uses the term correctly to describe a finding that doctors look for.