Chromosome

In the nucleus of each cell, the DNA molecule is packaged into thread-like structures called chromosomes. Each chromosome is made up of DNA tightly coiled many times around proteins called histones that support its structure.

What is a Chromosome?

Chromosomes are the basic building blocks of life where the entire genome of an organism is essentially organized and stored in the form of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) which is present inside every cell making up that organism. A chromosome is a single chain of DNA that is coiled and super coiled to form dense thread-like pieces. The term chromosome is derived from the Greek words "chroma" or color and "some" or body and is so named because chromosomes have the ability to be stained with dyes.

Chromosome History

Chromosomes in Eukaryotes

Chromosomes in Prokaryotes

Chromosome Karyotype

Human Chromosomes

Chromosomal Abnormalities

Common Chromosomal Disorders (Chromosomes 1-5 and X and Y)

What is Chromosome 1?

What is Chromosome 2?

What is Chromosome 3?

What is Chromosome 4?

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What is Chromosome 5?

What is the X Chromosome?

What is the Y Chromosome?

Latest Chromosome News and Research

Study pinpoints 95 locations in the genome associated with risk of developing PTSD

In posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), intrusive thoughts, changes in mood, and other symptoms after exposure to trauma can greatly impact a person's quality of life.

18 Apr 2024

Penn State study examines how a person's telomeres are affected by caloric restriction

Penn State researchers may have uncovered another layer of complexity in the mystery of how diet impacts aging.

17 Apr 2024

Study reveals accelerated progression of Alzheimer's in people with Down syndrome

Nearly all adults with Down syndrome will develop evidence of Alzheimer's disease by late middle age.

16 Apr 2024

Study finds dysfunction of key brain systems in people with psychosis

Inside the brains of people with psychosis, two key systems are malfunctioning: a "filter" that directs attention toward important external events and internal thoughts, and a "predictor" composed of pathways that anticipate rewards.

13 Apr 2024

New genetic variants could raise a woman's risk of cervical cancer from HPV infections

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the second most common cancer-causing virus, accounting for 690,000 cervical and other cancers each year worldwide.

12 Apr 2024

Nanopore sequencing unveils novel telomere length patterns

We depend on our cells being able to divide and multiply, whether it's to replace sunburnt skin or replenish our blood supply and recover from injury.

12 Apr 2024

Baylor study reveals role of newly inherited DNA variants in recessive diseases

You have your mother's eyes and your father's smile, but genetics is much more than just what's on the surface.

10 Apr 2024

Researchers develop first genetic maps for disease-linked DNA repeats

A research team led by the University of California, Irvine has built the first genetic reference maps for short lengths of DNA repeated multiple times which are known to cause more than 50 lethal human diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease and multiple cancers.

5 Apr 2024

Revolutionizing brain tumor treatment: the rise of AI in neuro-oncology

The current state of knowledge about the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of brain tumors.

2 Apr 2024

UVA researchers discover Y chromosome gene linked to heart failure in men

University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have discovered a gene on the Y chromosome that contributes to the greater incidence of heart failure in men.

1 Apr 2024

Veteran study reveals medical challenges in men with Klinefelter and Jacobs syndromes

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and collaborators across the country have conducted the largest and most diverse study of men with extra X or Y chromosomes in the US using a large dataset of military veterans.

29 Mar 2024

Genetic and lifestyle factors linked to brain network aging, study reveals

Research highlights the impact of genetic and lifestyle factors on a brain network particularly sensitive to aging, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease, using data from nearly 40,000 UK Biobank participants to investigate modifiable risk factors and genetic associations.

28 Mar 2024

Study sheds light on the interplay of genes in smoking addiction

Take a puff of nicotine for the first time, and your DNA plays an important role, alongside social and environmental factors, in shaping what happens next.

26 Mar 2024

Researchers devise novel technique for crafting human artificial chromosomes

Human artificial chromosomes (HACs) capable of working within human cells could power advanced gene therapies, including those addressing some cancers, along with many laboratory applications, though serious technical obstacles have hindered their development.

21 Mar 2024

Study reveals the inner workings of gene mutations linked to ultra-rare syndrome

A team from the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Medicine has completed an exciting new study that reveals the inner workings of gene mutations that result in an ultra-rare syndrome with fewer than 100 reported cases since its first description in the early 1960s.

18 Mar 2024