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.

Chromosomes in Eukaryotes

What is Chromosome 4?

Human Chromosomes

What is Chromosome 1?

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

Chromosomal Abnormalities

What is the Y Chromosome?

What is Chromosome 3?

Chromosomes in Prokaryotes

Chromosome Karyotype

Chromosome History

See more featured articles »

What is the X Chromosome?

What is Chromosome 5?

What is Chromosome 2?

Latest Chromosome News and Research

Uncovering hidden causes of recurrent pregnancy loss with optical genome mapping

Pregnancy loss may occur in as many as 25% of all pregnancies. Most of these losses occur in the first trimester, and about half are caused by genetic or chromosomal issues.

14 Nov 2025

Whole genome sequencing reveals how much human heritability we can finally explain

Whole genome sequencing in nearly 500,000 UK Biobank participants shows that observed rare and common variants now explain about 88% of family based heritability for many human traits. By partitioning heritability into rare versus common and coding versus non-coding components, the study narrows where missing heritability still hides and highlights traits that remain only partly understood.

13 Nov 2025

Study clarifies how biliary atresia overlaps with multiple congenital syndromes

Biliary atresia (BA) represents one of the leading causes of pediatric liver failure, often requiring surgical intervention or transplantation in early infancy.

12 Nov 2025

Study uncovers new mechanism for chromosome congression during mitosis

A research team from The University of Osaka, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has uncovered a new molecular mechanism underlying chromosome alignment during cell division. The study demonstrates that two motor proteins, KIF18A and CENP-E, act cooperatively to ensure proper chromosome congression. Remarkably, simultaneous inhibition of these proteins selectively kills cancer cells, suggesting a promising therapeutic avenue.

10 Nov 2025

Maternal type 1 diabetes may protect children from developing the disease

Findings suggest maternal T1D exposure leads to protective epigenetic alterations in children, influencing immune response and type 1 diabetes susceptibility.

10 Nov 2025

Scientists identify essential process that protects DNA integrity in reproductive cells

A team of scientists at the University of Seville has identified an essential process that protects DNA integrity in reproductive cells, providing new clues about how organisms avoid genetic defects during egg formation.

6 Nov 2025

Novel 3D chromosome mapping method can reliably reveal hidden structural variants

Standard laboratory tests can fail to detect many disease-causing DNA changes. Now, a novel 3D chromosome mapping method can reliably reveal these hidden structural variants and lead to new discoveries.

29 Oct 2025

MAGIC: A powerful tool to understand the origin of cancer

The human body relies on precise genetic instructions to function, and cancer begins when these instructions get scrambled.

29 Oct 2025

Nuclear binding protein identified as key contributor to trisomy 21-related CHDs

Three copies of chromosome 21 causes Down syndrome (DS), and roughly half of children born each year in the United States with DS-approximately 2,600-also have congenital heart defects (CHDs).

22 Oct 2025

HMGN1 gene linked to heart problems in people with Down syndrome

Nearly half of all babies born with Down syndrome face congenital heart defects, often involving serious malformations that require surgery in the first months of life.

22 Oct 2025

Study forces a textbook rewrite on cell division

Scientists at the Ruđer Bošković Institute (RBI) in Zagreb, Croatia, have discovered that the protein CENP-E, long believed to act as a motor dragging chromosomes into place during cell division, in fact plays a completely different role in chromosome movement.

22 Oct 2025

Researchers achieve proof of concept for generating eggs from somatic cells

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have accomplished a unique proof of concept to treat infertility by turning skin cells into eggs capable of producing early human embryos.

17 Oct 2025

New insights reveal persistent genome structure during cell division

Before cells can divide, they first need to replicate all of their chromosomes, so that each of the daughter cells can receive a full set of genetic material.

17 Oct 2025

Discovery explains why women face higher risk of Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis

New research by UCLA Health has identified a sex-chromosome linked gene that drives inflammation in the female brain, offering insight into why women are disproportionately affected by conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis as well as offering a potential target for intervention.

15 Oct 2025

Study explores how losing the Y chromosome fuels bladder cancer aggressiveness

University of Arizona Cancer Center researchers will study the potential effects of the loss of the Y chromosome in the development and progression of bladder cancer thanks to a grant of up to $6.5 million over seven years from the National Cancer Institute.

14 Oct 2025

Multidimensional regulation of stem cell fate by the cohesin complex

Conventional studies on stem cell fates are primarily focused on transcription factors, with the limited consideration for 3D genome architecture.

10 Oct 2025

Researchers discover how plants produce cancer-fighting mitraphylline

Researchers at UBC Okanagan have uncovered how plants produce mitraphylline, a rare natural compound that may help fight cancer.

8 Oct 2025

How multiple genetic variants shape clinical outcomes in complex disorders

The genetic roots of a disease or disorder do not always grow into clear cut, easily diagnosed clinical features.

7 Oct 2025

Wasatch Biolabs expands service portfolio with Oxford Nanopore assays in Pharmacogenomics, Telomere Sequencing, and mRNA Vaccine Quality Control

Wasatch BioLabs (WBL), a Renew Biotechnologies subsidiary, and the largest U.S. sequencing service provider dedicated exclusively to long-read sequencing, today announced the addition of three Oxford Nanopore-developed research-use-only (RUO) assays to its service portfolio: a Pharmacogenomics (PgX) panel, Telomere Sequencing, and mRNA Vaccine Quality Control.

7 Oct 2025

Why do females live longer in mammals but males in birds?

A global study reveals sexual selection influences life expectancy differences between sexes in mammals and birds, reshaping aging research and public health.

7 Oct 2025