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 Karyotype

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

What is Chromosome 5?

Chromosomal Abnormalities

What is Chromosome 1?

What is the X Chromosome?

Human Chromosomes

What is Chromosome 2?

What is the Y Chromosome?

What is Chromosome 3?

Chromosomes in Prokaryotes

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Chromosomes in Eukaryotes

Chromosome History

What is Chromosome 4?

Latest Chromosome News and Research

Selfish chromosomes hijack Overdrive gene to eliminate rival sperm

A new University of Utah-led study has discovered the mechanism behind a decades-old evolutionary mystery-how "selfish chromosomes" cheat the rules of genetic inheritance.

13 Mar 2026

NUS uncovers NuSAP’s role in centriole stability

Biologists at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have uncovered how the protein NuSAP safeguards tiny structures inside cells called centrioles, revealing a mechanism linked to developmental disorders such as microcephaly and mosaic variegated aneuploidy (MVA) syndrome.

12 Mar 2026

Transposable elements cause majority of lethal mutations in fruit flies

Most lethal mutations in wild fruit flies are driven by newly transferred jumping genes, not small DNA errors, according to a new study from Duke University.

10 Mar 2026

Scientists simulate complete life cycle of a minimal bacterial cell

By simulating the life cycle of a minimal bacterial cell - from DNA replication to protein translation to metabolism and cell division - scientists have opened a new frontier of computer vision into the essential processes of life.

9 Mar 2026

Extra copies of chromosome 1q may play key role in the earliest stages of pancreatic cancer

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and its Ludwig Center uncovered new evidence that extra copies of a specific chromosome segment - chromosome 1q - may play a key role in the earliest stages of pancreatic cancer development.

26 Feb 2026

Neanderthal DNA loss tied to ancient interbreeding dynamics

The human genome is a rich, complex record of migration, encounters, and inheritance written over thousands of millennia.

26 Feb 2026

Study identifies mitochondrial circular RNAs in aging and senescence

A new research paper was published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on February 10, 2026, titled "Aging-associated mitochondrial circular RNAs."

24 Feb 2026

Embryonic reproductive cells reveal striking genomic architecture before development

Researchers at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) and Imperial College London have shown for the first time that, before they can start developing into egg and sperm cells, the embryonic precursors of these cells uniquely reshape the 3D organization of their genetic material.

20 Feb 2026

New approach better predicts chemotherapy response in patients with triple-negative breast cancer

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have developed a new computational approach designed to better account for changes in gene expression within tumors relative to their unique microenvironments.

17 Feb 2026

Study examines the relationship between leukocyte telomere length and age-related cataract

Cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness worldwide among adults over 50, despite major advances in surgical treatment.

12 Feb 2026

FDA-approved anti-seizure drug could help fight Alzheimer's disease

While physicians and scientists have long known Alzheimer's disease involves the buildup of toxic protein fragments in the brain, they have struggled to understand how these harmful fragments are produced.

12 Feb 2026

Research reveals a link between defective DNA repair and immune-driven inflammatory disease

Unrepaired DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) – highly toxic tangles of protein and DNA – cause a process that leads to premature aging and embryonic lethality in mice.

31 Jan 2026

Data-driven modeling uncovers dynamic genome folding in three dimensions

Chromosomes are masters of organization. These long strings of DNA fold down into an ensemble of compact structures that keep needed parts of the genome accessible while tucking away those that aren't used as often.

29 Jan 2026

Scientists discover spindle's self-repair mechanism for accurate cell division

Every second, millions of cells in your body divide in two. In the space of an hour, they duplicate their DNA and grow a web of protein fibers around it called a spindle.

27 Jan 2026

Unraveling liver injury mechanisms in familial hypobetalipoproteinemia

Familial Hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL), caused by variants in the apolipoprotein B (APOB) gene, is a rare autosomal co-dominant monogenic disorder characterized by lifelong low plasma levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and APOB.

24 Jan 2026