Structure and Types of Chromosomes

Vocabulary flashcards covering the structure of chromosomes, components, types based on centromere position, and chromatids.

Chromosomes

Microscopic, thread-like structures that appear at the time of cell division, are made up of chromatin material in eukaryotic cells, are specific in number, and contain heredity units called genes.

Genes

Heredity units contained within chromosomes.

Histones

Basic proteins that, together with DNA, make up a chromosome.

Centromere

The most narrow region of a chromosome where chromatids are attached.

Metacentric

Chromosomes that have equal arms.

Sub-metacentric

Chromosomes that have unequal arms.

Acrocentric to sub-telocentric

Chromosomes that are rod-like, with one arm very small and the other long.

Telocentric

Chromosomes that have the centromere at the end.

Sister-chromatids

Two genetically identical copies of threads attached to each other in each chromosome at the beginning of cell division; one of two strands of a copied chromosome.

Non-sister chromatids

Chromatids of two different chromosomes.