chromosomes Flashcards
what are chromosomes ?
Chromosomes are long, thin, thread-like structures that are found in the nuclei of the cells of living organisms.
Each chromosome is one very long DNA molecule wrapped around proteins.
how many chromosomes do humans have ?
Humans have 46 Chromosomes in the cells of their body.
how many remain chromosomes are there and what are they called ?
The other 44 chromosomes are not sex chromosomes and are known as autosomes.
Autosomes are grouped into 22 pairs, these pairs are homologous chromosomes (same)
how are chromosomes arranged ?
They are arranged and numbered from longest to shortest.
Two of these chromosomes are the sex chromosomes
Female - XX
Male - XY
what are homologous chromosomes ? and the structure of them ?
chromosomes with genes for particular characteristics at the same location. they are the same length and have the structure of centromere in the same position.
what is a centromere ?
The centromere is the point of the chromosome where the two chromatids are joined together.
what are chromatids ?
one of the stands of a chromosome following replication
