A chromosome looks like two identical bars side by side pinched together in the middle. Composed of two identical chromatids, the chromosome is joined in the middle by a centromere. The centromere is often located along the chromosome so that one end of the chromosome is longer than the other. The short arms of the joined chromosome are referred to as the p arms. The q arms are the longer sections of the chromosome.
The chromatin on the human chromosome are made up of the DNA double helix, which contains genes that determine our physical and genetic traits. The DNA is tightly wrapped around histones, which are the protein backbone of a chromosome. At its center, each chromosome is joined by a centromere, which becomes the site of attachment during cell division. The kinetechore of a chromosome is located on the centromere and attaches to the mitotic spindle during cell division.
During cell division, the chromosome's shape aides in its replication. In the metaphase portion of mitosis, the centromeres line up along the center of a cell. Next, during a phase called anaphase, the centromere's kinetechores attach to the microtubules in the mitotic spindle of the cell and are pulled, separating the chromosome into single chromatids. These chromatids form new arms to form new chromosomes.
When something goes wrong during cell division, structural and numerical abnormalities in chromosomes are the result. Numerical abnormalities occur when a person is missing a chromosome from a pair or has more than two chromosomes of a pair. Down's Syndrome is an example of a numerical abnormality in which an individual has three copies of chromosome 21 rather than two copies. Turner Syndrome occurs when an individual has only one sex chromosome.
There are many types of structural abnormalities, including cases in which a portion of a chromosome is missing completely or is duplicated, which results in extra genetic material.
Translocations occur when a portion of one chromosome is transferred to another chromosome. Chromosomal inversions occur when a portion of the chromosome has broken off, turned upside down and reattached. A chromosome can also form a ring when a part of the chromosome breaks off and forms a ring shape.