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Chromosomes
Chromosomes
d value = q-p
r value = q/p
– Origins of replication
– Centromeres
– Telomeres
Origins of replication
• Is a particular sequence in a genome at which
replication is initiated
• Eukaryotes have multiple origins of replication on each
linear chromosome that initiate at different times.
(with up to 100,000 present in a single human cell).
• Many origins of replication helps to speed the
duplication of much larger genetic material.
• The origin of replication binds the pre-replication
complex, a protein complex that recognizes, unwinds,
and begins to copy DNA
• The segment of DNA that is copied starting from each
unique replication origin is called a replicon
Centromeres
is
Mitos First growth phase.
G1
Varies in length
G2
Second growth
phase INTERPHASE
S Copying of
chromosomes
G1 + S + G2 = INTERPHASE
Karyotype
Packaging of DNA
The total length of cellular DNA is up to a
hundred thousand times a cell’s length, the
packing of DNA is crucial to cell architecture.
The compaction of linear DNA in eukaryotic
complex.
Histone proteins are basic
They contain many positively-charged amino acids
Lysine and arginine
These bind with the phosphates along the DNA
backbone
Irregular
configuration
where
nucleosomes
have little face-to-
face contact
Further compaction
• The 30nm fibre form loops to make 300 nm
coiled chromatin fibers radial loops
• The 300nm loops are compressed and folded
to form 700nm fibres
• Form scaffold from nuclear matrix and further
compaction to 1400nm, that constitute the
chromatids.
Compaction level
in euchromatin
During interphase
most chromosomal Compaction level
regions are in heterochromatin
euchromatic
Giant chromosomes
2 types of giant chromosomes
1. Lampbrush chromosome
2. Polytene chromosome
Lampbrush chromosome
•The amphibian oocyte (germ cells in the ovary) has
certain periods of very active RNA synthesis.
•During this stage, certain chromosomes stretch out
large loops of DNA, causing the chromosome to
resemble a lamp brush
•These chromosomes show RNA synthesis and form
unusual chromatin loops consisting of
transcriptionally active DNA.
•They are 400–800 μm long and are visible under the
light microscope
Polytene Chromosomes
• Moderately repetitive
– Found a few hundred to a few thousand times
– Includes
• Genes for rRNA and histones
• Origins of replication
• Transposable elements
Repetitive Sequences
• Highly repetitive
– Found tens of thousands to millions of times
– Each copy is relatively short (a few nucleotides to
several hundred in length)
Matrix-attachment
regions
or
25,000 to
Scaffold-attachment 200,000 bp
regions (SARs)
Heterochromatin
Tightly compacted regions of chromosomes
Transcriptionally inactive (in general)
Radial loop domains compacted even further
Play a role in the
organization and compaction
of the chromosome
Regular, spiral
configuration
containing six
nucleosomes per turn
Irregular
configuration where
nucleosomes have
little face-to-face
contact
The 30 nm fiber shortens the total length
of DNA another seven-fold
Chromatin Packing