noun
centromere; kinetochore
In cell biology, the region of a chromosome where sister chromatids are joined and where spindle fibers attach during cell division. The term 動原体 is used for both the centromere and the kinetochore, though in strict usage the kinetochore is the protein complex assembled on the centromere.
動原体は染色体の中央に位置する。
The centromere is located at the center of the chromosome.
細胞分裂の際、紡錘糸が動原体に結合する。
During cell division, spindle fibers attach to the kinetochore.
キネトコア is the katakana loanword for kinetochore, the protein structure on the centromere. 動原体 can refer to both the centromere and the kinetochore.
Compound of 動 (どう, 'movement') + 原 (げん, 'origin') + 体 (たい, 'body'), likely a calque from German or English terminology in cell biology. The exact derivation is uncertain.