Abstract
Depending upon the species, two or more chromosomes are enclosed within the nucleus of each eukaryotic cell. The chemical composition of chromosomes in eukaryotic organisms is mainly deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and protein. Usually, some ribonucleic acid (RNA) is also present along with certain ions. The complex of DNA and proteins is called deoxyribonucleoprotein (DNP). About half of the molecular weight of the chromosome is due to DNA, and the remainder is mostly protein. The chromosome is a structural entity composed of chromatin that is the associated DNA and protein. When the chromosomes replicate, as a preparatory step for cell division, the two resultant chromosome strands in each case are identical; they are now called chromatids.
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© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Kowles, R. (2001). Chromosomes and Cell Division. In: Solving Problems in Genetics. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0205-6_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0205-6_3
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-98841-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-0205-6
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