DNA, histone-protein, and acidic-nuclear-protein assemblies {chromosome}| contain genes and replicate. Waldeyer invented name [1888].
shapes
Prokaryotes have one circular chromosome. Eukaryotes have linear chromosomes.
pairing
In organisms with sexual reproduction, chromosomes have pairs, one from father and one from mother. Both pair members have same nucleotide sequences, except for natural allele variations or mutation damage.
number
Red blood cells have no nuclei. Germ cells have 23 chromosomes. Other human cells have 46 chromosomes, in 23 pairs. Ape somatic cells have 24 chromosome pairs. Two ape chromosomes fused to make human chromosome 2.
synteny
Different species can have chromosomes with same genes {conserved synteny}.
linkage
Different species can have same chromosome gene order {conserved linkage}.
Biological Sciences>Genetics>Chromosome
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Date Modified: 2022.0224