Are threadlike structures made up of DNA that come in 23 pairs with one member of each pair coming from each parent?
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Chromosomes are bundles of tightly coiled DNA located within the nucleus of almost every cell in our body. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes. Show
 Illustration showing how DNA is packaged into a chromosome.
This page was last updated on 2016-01-25 How helpful was this page? 👎 👍 Send What's the main reason for your rating? Send Which of these best describes your occupation? Student Scientist / Researcher Teacher Other Send how old are students / how old are you? < 11 11-16 16-18 18-25 > 25 Send What is the first part of your school's postcode? Send How has the site influenced you (or others)? Send Thankyou, we value your feedback! Feedback Can you spare 5-8 minutes to tell us what you think of this website? Open survey 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. Chromosomes are not visible in the cell’s nucleus—not even under a microscope—when the cell is not dividing. However, the DNA that makes up chromosomes becomes more tightly packed during cell division and is then visible under a microscope. Most of what researchers know about chromosomes was learned by observing chromosomes during cell division. Each chromosome has a constriction point called the centromere, which divides the chromosome into two sections, or “arms.” The short arm of the chromosome is labeled the “p arm.” The long arm of the chromosome is labeled the “q arm.” The location of the centromere on each chromosome gives the chromosome its characteristic shape, and can be used to help describe the location of specific genes.
Chromosomes are defined as thread-like structures of deoxyribonucleic acid DNA that carry hereditary information for everything from height to eye color. They are found in the nucleus of a cell and help ensure DNA is replicated and divided evenly during cell division, according to genomics website Healio.com (opens in new tab). Chromosomes consist of a protein and a single molecule of DNA. Chromosomes make us who we are. Your DNA blueprint (genome) doesn't exist as one continuous scroll tightly rolled up in the nucleus of each cell. Instead, your DNA is divided into 46 'chapters' called chromosomes — 23 from each parent. These 23 chromosomes from each parent pair up and form the 23 chromosome pairs in each cell. Chromosomes are packaging masters, without them DNA would simply not fit inside cells. Chromosomes keep DNA coiled around spool-like proteins known as histones, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute (opens in new tab). If you unraveled all the DNA from a single human cell and placed it end-to-end, it would stretch 6 feet (1.8 meters)! Not all chromosomes are created equal. Some contain a lot of genetic material whilst others carry comparably little. Chromosome 1 for example is the biggest and contains eight percent of your total DNA according to Medline Plus (opens in new tab). An individual's collection of chromosomes is called a karyotype (opens in new tab). The term chromosome comes from the Greek words for color (chroma) and body (soma) due to their ability to be strongly stained by dyes used in research according to the National Human Genome Research Institute. (opens in new tab) Number of chromosomesThe number of chromosomes an organism possesses varies considerably but has little to do with the complexity of the organism or the quantity of DNA it possesses. Most humans have 46 chromosomes whilst a potato has 48! According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, most bacteria have just one or two circular chromosomes, a fruit fly has eight chromosomes, a rice plant 24, and a dog 78. But some organisms have chromosome counts in the thousands! The world record holder for the highest chromosome number recorded is the adder's tongue fern Ophioglossum reticulatum, with an estimated 1,440 chromosomes (or 720 pairs!), according to the Guinness World Records (opens in new tab). In humans, if the number of chromosomes changes, it can lead to changes in growth and development, according to Medline Plus. When an organism is missing chromosomes or has extra chromosomes it is known as aneuploidy. Trisomy, refers to the presence of an extra chromosome in cells, an example of a condition caused by trisomy is Down's Syndrome (opens in new tab). People with Down's Syndrome have three copies of chromosome 21, instead of two copies. The only human cells that do not contain a pair of chromosomes are reproductive cells (gametes). Egg and sperm cells carry just one copy of each chromosome so that when they unite they become a single cell containing a pair of chromosomes. (opens in new tab) X and Y chromosomesHuman sex chromosomes are referred to as X and Y, and their combination determines a person's sex. Typically, human females have two X chromosomes while males possess an XY pairing. This XY sex-determination system is found in most mammals as well as some reptiles and plants. Whether a person has XX or XY chromosomes is determined when a sperm fertilizes an egg. Unlike the body's other cells, the cells in the egg and sperm — called gametes or sex cells — possess only one chromosome, known as haploid. Gametes are produced by meiosis cell division, which results in the divided cells having half the number of chromosomes as the parent, or progenitor, cells. In the case of humans, this means that parent cells have two chromosomes, known as diploid and gametes have one. All of the gametes in the mother's eggs possess X chromosomes. The father's sperm contains about half X and half Y chromosomes. Sperm is the variable factor in determining the sex of the baby. If the sperm carries an X chromosome, it will combine with the egg's X chromosome to form a female zygote. If the sperm carries a Y chromosome, it will result in a male. During fertilization, gametes from the sperm combine with gametes from the egg to form a zygote. The zygote contains two sets of 23 chromosomes, for the required 46. There are however some variations in the number of sex chromosomes. Recent research has found that a person can have a variety of different combinations of sex chromosomes and genes, particularly those who identify as LGBT. For example, a certain X chromosome called Xq28 and a gene on chromosome 8 seem to be found in higher prevalence in men who are gay, according to a 2014 study in the journal Psychological Medicine (opens in new tab). It is important to remember that sex and gender have two separate definitions and many cultures include more labels than simply "male" and "female" to identify others. The structure of X and Y chromosomesWhile the chromosomes for other parts of the body are the same size and shape — forming an identical pairing — the X and Y chromosomes have different structures. The X chromosome is significantly longer than the Y chromosome and contains hundreds more genes. Because the additional genes in the X chromosome have no counterpart in the Y chromosome, the X genes are dominant. This means that almost any gene on the X, even if it is recessive in the female, will be expressed in males. These are referred to as X-linked genes (opens in new tab). Genes found only on the Y chromosome are referred to as Y-linked genes, and expressed only in males. Genes on either sex chromosome can be called sex-linked genes. There are approximately 1,098 X-linked genes (opens in new tab), though most of them are not for female anatomical characteristics. Many are linked to disorders such as hemophilia (opens in new tab), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (opens in new tab), fragile-X syndrome (opens in new tab) and several others. They are responsible for red-green color blindness, considered the most common genetic disorder and found most often in males. The non-sex feature X-linked genes are also responsible for male pattern baldness. According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, the Y chromosome is about one-third the size of the X chromosome. The X chromosome has about 900 genes while the Y chromosome has about 55. The Y chromosome contains a 'male-determining gene' called the SRY gene. This gene is what triggers testes to form in the embryo, if there is a mutation in this gene the embryo will develop female genitalia despite having XY chromosomes. Sex chromosome abnormalities(opens in new tab) Abnormalities in the sex chromosome combination can result in a variety of gender-specific conditions that are rarely lethal. These abnormalities can be caused by full or partial chromosome deletions or duplicated sex chromosomes, according to MSD Manual. (opens in new tab) Turner syndrome occurs when females are missing or partially missing an X chromosome, according to the Mayo Clinic (opens in new tab). Turner Syndrome can cause a variety of medical and developmental problems including short stature, failure in the development of ovaries and heart defects. Trisomy X syndrome (opens in new tab) — also known as Triple X syndrome — is caused by three X chromosomes instead of two and affects approximately 1 in 1000 females according to the Mayo Clinic. Most people who have Trisomy X do not experience any symptoms or have mild symptoms. Occasionally, more significant symptoms may occur which may delay the development of speech and language skills, behavioral problems, seizures and kidney problems. According to Medicine Plus (opens in new tab), one of the most common sex chromosome disorders is Klinefelter syndrome which affects approximately one in 650 males and is caused by an extra X chromosome. In some cases, the symptoms can be so mild that many go undiagnosed until they reach puberty, and some researchers believe up to 75% of affected males may never know they have the condition. Symptoms of Klinefelter syndrome include small testes producing lower amounts of testosterone which can lead to delayed puberty, breast development, infertility and decreased muscle mass. Additional resourcesTo find out more about chromosomes check out this material from Your Genome (opens in new tab). Learn more about gender identity with Planned Parenthood (opens in new tab). The Intersex Society of North America (opens in new tab) has an insightful article on whether having a Y chromosome makes someone a man. Discover more about modes of inheritance and genetic basics in animals with this article from VCA animal hospitals (opens in new tab). Bibliography
Daisy Dobrijevic joined Space.com (opens in new tab) in February 2022 as a reference writer having previously worked for our sister publication All About Space (opens in new tab) magazine as a staff writer. Before joining us, Daisy completed an editorial internship with the BBC Sky at Night Magazine and worked at the National Space Centre (opens in new tab) in Leicester, U.K., where she enjoyed communicating space science to the public. In 2021, Daisy completed a PhD in plant physiology and also holds a Master's in Environmental Science, she is currently based in Nottingham, U.K. What are the 23 threadlike structures that carry DNA called?In the nucleus of each cell, the DNA molecule is packaged into thread-like structures called chromosomes.
What type of cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes?Diploid. A diploid cell has two complete sets of chromosomes. Most cells in humans are diploid, comprising 23 chromosome pairs, so 46 chromosomes in total.
Where did each chromosome come from in each of the 23 pairs?Chromosomes come in pairs. Normally, each cell in the human body has 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 total chromosomes). Half come from the mother; the other half come from the father. Two of the chromosomes (the X and the Y chromosome) determine your sex as male or female when you are born.
Are threadlike tissues that carries the genes and are usually found in pairs?Chromosome. A chromosome is a threadlike structure found in the nucleus of most cells that carries the genetic material in the form of a linear sequence of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
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