Chromosomes and chromatin

Kinetochore

-A specialized region on the centromere that links each sister chromatid to the mitotic spindle. -It is like a magnet on both chromatids, pulling them apart, going to different "poles"

Centromere

-Area where the chromatids of a chromosome are attached. -In prophase of mitosis, specialized regions on centromeres called kinetochores attach chromosomes to spindle fibers. The centromere is the part of a chromosome that links sister chromatids or a dyad. During mitosis, spindle fibers attach to the centromere via the kinetochore.

Homologous Chromosomes

-Chromosomes are not identical. This is the chromosome from the mom and dad(not the same) -Chromosomes go through Crossing over to give the offspring genetic material from the mom and dad.

Chromosomes

-Genetic material in a cell undergoing motosis/meosis (cell division) -DNA is tightly wound

Chromatin

-Genetic material in a non-dividing cell -the material of which the chromosomes of organisms are composed. It consists of protein, RNA, and DNA. -Unwound DNA

Sister chromatides

-Represents the duplicated chromosomes, they are identical to each other

How many pairs of chromosomes do we have?

-We have 23 pairs of chromosomes 46 in total. We have 23 from mom and 23 from dad.

Chromatid

-one of two identical "sister" parts of a duplicated chromosome

Nucleosome

8 clusters of proteins (Histones) + DNA =

Allele

An alternate protein version of a gene. Ex. Based on genes a person can pass down blue or brown eyes to their offspring

How does a chromosome form

DNA wraps around 8 histone proteins creating nucleosomes. They are then looped and condensed into what is known as the chromosome

DNA

Our genetic make up

Gene

Specific sequences of nucleotides that encodes a particular protein