Answer to Question #189728 in Genetics for Muhammed Islam

Question

Explain in detail how and why the structure of the human chromosome relates to the function. Your explanations must include: 

• centromere 

• chromatids

• autosomes

• sex chromosomes

• chromosome number

• homologous

• non-homologous chromosomes

Answer 1

Centromere, structure in a chromosome that holds together the two chromatids.

Chromatid is one of the halves of the replicated chromosome.

An autosome is any of the numbered chromosomes, as opposed to the sex chromosomes.

A sex chromosome, is a chromosome that differs from an ordinary autosome in form, size, and behavior.

Human cells have 23 pairs of chromosomes (22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes), giving a total of 46 per cell.

Homologous chromosomes refer to a pair of chromosomes having the same gene sequences, each derived from one parent. Non-homologous chromosomes are chromosomes that do not belong to the same pair.