heterochromatization

noun

het·​ero·​chro·​ma·​ti·​za·​tion ˌhet-ər-ō-ˌkrō-mə-tə-ˈzā-shən 

variants also heterochromatinization

-mə-tin-i-ˈzā- 

also British heterochromatisation also heterochromatinisation

: the transformation of or the extent of the transformation of genetically active euchromatin to inactive heterochromatin

heterochromatized adjective

also British heterochromatised

-ˈkrō-mə-ˌtīzd