Euchromatin vs. Heterochromatin

Euchromatinnoun

(genetics) uncoiled dispersed threads of chromosomal material that occurs during interphase; it stains lightly with basic dyes

Euchromatin

Euchromatin is a lightly packed form of chromatin (DNA, RNA, and protein) that is enriched in genes, and is often (but not always) under active transcription. Euchromatin comprises the most active portion of the genome within the cell nucleus.

Heterochromatinnoun

(cytology) Heterochromatic tightly coiled chromosome material; believed to be genetically inactive

Heterochromatin

Heterochromatin is a tightly packed form of DNA or condensed DNA, which comes in multiple varieties. These varieties lie on a continuum between the two extremes of constitutive heterochromatin and facultative heterochromatin.