What do you

wonder about
today’s topic
structure of
Chromosomes?
Chromosomes

During cell division, Chromosomes are

chromatin fibers the highly coiled
condensed to form and condensed
chromosomes. form of chromatin
fibers.
Chromatin fibres
Are made up of Nucleosome Each nucleosome
subunits. comprises

40% of DNA molecule and

60% of Histone Octamers.

 DNA Molecule
Each DNA is very Each DNA Strand is
large and is made up of nucleotide
subunits.
composed of two
complementary Each nucleotide
strands wound consists of
around each other in
1. Phosphate group
a double helix.
2. Pentose Sugar
3. A nitrogenous
base
 Nitrogenous Bases

There are four types Adenine always pairs

of nitrogenous bases with Thymine with two
found in DNA. hydrogen bonds.

1. Adenine Guanine always pairs

2. Guanine with cytosine with
3. Thymine three hydrogen
bonds.
4. Cytosine
Histone octamer
Histones are proteins A single
that help in the coiling chromosome may
and packaging of DNA
have about a million
into structural units
nucleosome.
called nucleosomes.
I wonder...

How 2 meters of DNA is stretched

Inside 6 micrometer cell
 ● It consists of two sister chromatids
attached at the point of
Chromosome centromere.
● Each chromosomes centromere is
located at the particular site.
● It also serves to attach spindle
fibres during cell division.
● Spindle fibers helps to detach the
chromatids during cell division by
pulling away from the other
towards the two poles of the
dividing cell.
 Genes

Are the specific sequences of nucleotides on a

chromosome, that encode particular proteins which
express in the form of some particular feature of the
body.
Need for new cells

1 2
For growth For replacement

3 4
For repair For reproduction
Cell Cycle
• Cells are
constantly going through the 
cell cycle. Once a cell divides, its
daughter cells just repeat the cycle.

• Cell cycle, the ordered sequence of

events that occur in a cell to prepare
itself for cell division and subsequent
division of the cell to produce two
daughter cells.
Cell cycle
Cell Cycle Phases
• Interphase

Non- dividing phase

• M-phase or Mitosis

Dividing phase
Interphase

. During
this period, the cell grows and prepares for 
mitosis. Includes 3 Phases

▪ First growth phase

▪ Synthesis Phase

▪ Second growth Phase

First growth
• RNA and Protein synthesis. During this phase,
the cell synthesizes various enzymes and

phase (G1)
nutrients that are needed later on for DNA
replication and cell division

• Volume of cytoplasm increases

• Mitochondria and chloroplast start to divide.

• In the late G1 the cells either withdraw from the

cell cycle and enter resting phase or start
preparing for the next cell division.
 Synthesis Phase (S)

• More DNA is formed by DNA

Replication
• Chromosomes are duplicated.
Second growth Phase
(G2)
• Shorter growth period
• RNA and proteins needed for cell division
continues to divide.
• After the dividing phase gets completed,
the newly formed daughter cells enter into
the interphase again and the cell cycle
goes on….
Mitosis

Mitosis: Mitosis is the division of somatic cells in which two identical

daughter cells are produced by the division of one parent cell.

Mitosis is also known as equational division or somatic cell division

because during the process daughter cells receive an equal number of
chromosomes and the division occurs in the body cells or somatic cells.

It is helpful for growth and development.

 M-phase
Mitosis consists of the following phases:

A. Karyokinesis: It is the division of the

nucleus during cell division.

B. Cytokinesis: It is the division of the

cytoplasm during cell division.
Karyokinesis is Karyokinesis occurs in four
the division of phases:

nucleus. 1. Prophase
Please sit on 2. Metaphase
MAT 3. Anaphase
4. Telophase
 Prophase
During prophase, chromatin fibres condense and
thick chromosomes are visible.

The nucleolus and nuclear membrane disappear.

A pair of centrioles duplicates.

Spindle apparatus starts forming and the duplicated

chromosomes start moving towards the equator of
the cell.
Metaphase

Chromosomes are arranged on the metaphase plate or equatorial

plane.

Each chromosome gets attached to a spindle fibre by its centromere.

Anaphase
The centromere divides, and the
sister chromatids separate from
each other.

Spindle fibres contract and pull

chromatids towards opposite poles.
Telophase
Spindle apparatus disappears.

Chromosomes become thin and turn

into chromatin fibres.

Nuclear membranes and nucleoli

reappear
Cytokinesis
The furrow continues to deepen in the cell,
and it finally divides the cytoplasm forming
two new daughter cells.

In plant cells, a cell plate appears at the

equatorial plane.
Meiosis
Meiosis is the cell division in which each
daughter cell receives half set of chromosomes.
Hence, in meiosis, haploid daughter cells (n) are
formed from a diploid parent cell (2n). Therefore,
meiosis is also known as reductional division.
Meiosis consists of two successive divisions—
meiosis I and meiosis II.
Meiosis importance
•During meiosis, homologous chromosomes (1 from each parent) pair along their
lengths. The chromosomes cross over at points called chiasma. At each chiasma,
the chromosomes break and rejoin, trading some of their genes. This recombination
results in genetic variation.

•This is how siblings, are different from each other in certain aspects.
 Difference between Mitosis and Meiosis
Occurs in somatic cells
Provide for growth and replacement
Occurs continuously throughout life.
Two daughter cells will be produced.
Full set of chromosomes is passed
on to each daughter cell.
Single nuclear division
Produce identical daughter cells
Occurs in reproductive cells
Only for gamete formation
Occurs only in reproductive age.
Four daughter cells will be produced.
Only half the number of
chromosomes is passed onto each
daughter cells
Two nuclear divisions
Results genetic variations