Canadian Medical Guide > Anatomy > Cells > Cellular Structures > Chromosomes Terms and Definitions

Chromosomes

Medical Definition:	In a prokaryotic cell or in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell, a structure consisting of or containing DNA which carries the genetic information essential to the cell. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)
Guide Notes:	GEN or unspecified; prefer specifics

Chromosomes Categories.

	Chromosomes, Archaeal - Structures within the nucleus of archaeal cells consisting of or containing DNA, which carry genetic information essential to the cell.
	Chromosomes, Artificial - DNA constructs that are composed of, at least, elements such as a REPLICATION ORIGIN; TELOMERE; and CENTROMERE, that are required for successful replication, propagation to and maintainance in progeny cells. In addition, they are constructed to carry other sequences for analysis or gene transfer.
	Chromosomes, Bacterial - Structures within the nucleus of bacterial cells consisting of or containing DNA, which carry genetic information essential to the cell.
	Chromosomes, Fungal - Structures within the nucleus of fungal cells consisting of or containing DNA, which carry genetic information essential to the cell.
	Chromosomes, Mammalian - Complex nucleoprotein structures which contain the genomic DNA and are part of the CELL NUCLEUS of MAMMALS.
	Chromosomes, Plant - Complex nucleoprotein structures which contain the genomic DNA and are part of the CELL NUCLEUS of PLANTS.
	Isochromosomes - Metacentric chromosomes produced during MEIOSIS or MITOSIS when the CENTROMERE splits transversely instead of longitudinally. The chromosomes produced by this abnormal division are one chromosome having the two long arms of the original chromosome, but no short arms, and the other chromosome consisting of the two short arms and no long arms. Each of these isochromosomes constitutes a simultaneous duplication and deletion.
	Ring Chromosomes - Aberrant chromosomes with no ends, i.e., circular.
	Sex Chromosomes - The homologous chromosomes that are dissimilar in the heterogametic sex. There are the X CHROMOSOME, the Y CHROMOSOME, and the W, Z chromosomes (in animals in which the female is the heterogametic sex (the silkworm moth Bombyx mori, for example)). In such cases the W chromosome is the female-determining and the male is ZZ. (From King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)

Chromosomes Medical Definitions and Terms

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