This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages without signing in

Structure

Authoring team

Chromosomes are formed by an impressive degree of superstructure formation:

  • the DNA double helix winds around histone proteins to form nucleosomes
  • multiple nucleosomes associate with each other along the DNA chain to form a chromatin fibre
  • the chromatin fibre folds upon itself perpendicularly to an acidic protein strand to from heterochromatin
  • heterochromatin coils into a strand to from a chromosome

Further, the chromosome can divide longitudinally to form chromatids. Chromatids are initially joined by a centromere. Telomeres are found at the end of chromosomes.

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.