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Chromatids

Definition

noun, singular: chromatid

The two strands joined together by a single centromere, formed from the duplication of the chromosome during the early stages of cell division and then separate to become individual chromosomes during the late stages of cell division.


Supplement

The term chromatid was proposed by Clarence Erwin McClung (1900) for each of the four threads making up a chromosome-pair during meiosis. It was later used also for mitosis.

Chromatids may be sister or non-sister chromatids.

When chromatids separate and move toward opposite poles of the cell, they are now referred to as daughter chromosomes.


Word origin: Greek khrōma, khrōmat-, color.

Related terms: sister chromatids, non-sister chromatid.

Compare: homologous chromosomes.
See also: centromere, meiosis, mitosis.


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Questions about Biology's term

... Is a copy of a chromosome present after DNA and chromosome replication. So during metaphase the two halves of a copied chromosome are both chromatids. At anaphase these separate and become two new chromosomes. Bivalent: A chromosome that has duplicated to form two sister chromatids still ...

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by Jesse2504
Tue Jun 23, 2009 6:25 am
 
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Questions about Biology's term
Replies: 6
Views: 222

Re: Meiosis = extreme confusion. Please help!

... (46 Chromosomes). Before it enters meiosis, its chromosomes have been duplicates (DNA synthesis), which means that the chromosomes each have 2 chromatids joined together in an "X" shape. After meiosis 1, the homologous chromosomes separate, so that each of the 2 daughter cells have ...

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by Picaq
Sun Apr 12, 2009 9:48 pm
 
Forum: Cell Biology
Topic: Meiosis = extreme confusion. Please help!
Replies: 1
Views: 551

Meiosis = extreme confusion. Please help!

Just to clarify: in M1 the number of chromosomes is halved as homologous chromosomes separate. in M2 the chromatids separate. in terms of numbers, say for humans you'd have 46 chromosomes at the start, then 23 after M1, then 23 chromatids after M2...? I've given myself a headache ...

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by greengoddess
Sun Apr 12, 2009 5:57 pm
 
Forum: Cell Biology
Topic: Meiosis = extreme confusion. Please help!
Replies: 1
Views: 551

Basic meiosis question

In metaphase I can both of the chromatids of a double chromosome crossover? In textbooks the tetrad complex is always shown laid flat (it looks like XX ) so it makes since that only one chromatid from each double chromosome would be able ...

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by dae
Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:48 pm
 
Forum: Cell Biology
Topic: Basic meiosis question
Replies: 3
Views: 477

Question about chromosome replication before mitosis

... lies in the much historical definition of a chromosome. In S phase, each chromosome makes a copy of itself, but the two copies (called sister chromatids) are glued together by proteins (I am guessing you are not into molecular biology so I'll spare you the details). Because they are glued ...

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by MrMistery
Sat Mar 07, 2009 5:40 pm
 
Forum: Genetics
Topic: Question about chromosome replication before mitosis
Replies: 1
Views: 771
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