Chromosomes Exist in Homologous Pairs in Diploid Organisms

Centromere

• region at which sister chromatids remain attached after replication

• the site to which spindle fibers attach to the chromosome during cell division

• the location of the centromere determines the shape of the chromosome during the anaphase portion of cell division

• known as the primary constriction

Chromosome shapes

biparental inheritance

• inheritance from two parents

locus

• The place on a chromosome where a particular gene is located