Chromosome

In the human species the genetic material is packaged in46 units formed by DNA and proteins, called chromosomes.

These 46 chromosomes are organized in 23 pairs, from each pair one of the chromosomes is inherited from the mother and the other from the father. The pairs are numbered from 1 to 22 in the so-called autosomal chromosomes, then adding the sex chromosomes, the couple responsible for the sexual determination of the individual, which are called X and Y.Each chromosome of a couple has a characteristic structure, including length, gene content and ordering of these genes.The exception are the two types of sex chromosomes, which have a different structure, length and gene content. In interphase the genetic material is dispersed in strands of a loose structure called chromatin; they only condense in the compact, rod-like structure that we call the chromosome when the cell divides.

Dr. Juan Sabater-TobellaEuropean Specialist in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EC4)Member of the Pharmacogenomics Research NetworkPresidente de EUGENOMIC®

Last modified: Nov 20, 2018 @ 5:26 pm