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    Unit 2 - The Cell and Chromosome Structure

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    Kesiya Prado

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Unit 2 - The Cell and Chromosome Structure

    Uploaded by

    Kesiya Prado
    28 views16 pages

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    Unit 2_The Cell and Chromosome Structure

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    28 views16 pages

    Unit 2 - The Cell and Chromosome Structure

    Uploaded by

    Kesiya Prado

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    The Cell and the

    Chromosome
    Structure
    The Cell
    • All forms of life, except viruses, consists of cells.
    • The cell usually consists of two distinct areas which, in
    living cells, are in constant motion:
    • Cytoplasm -the major portion of the protoplasmic substance
    contained in the cell membrane
    • Nucleus -the dark staining body within the cytoplasm.
    The Procaryotic and Eukaryotic Cell
    • Bacteria and Blue-green algae
    are prokaryotes, there is no
    nuclear membrane that
    separates the nuclear material
    from the cytoplasm.
    • In eukaryotes, a nuclear
    membrane separates the
    genetic material from the
    cytoplasm.
    • Eukaryotes include the majority
    of the living species and multi-
    cellular organisms.
    Organelles are observed in the eukaryotes:
    • Mitochondria-small bodies whose primary function is to provide
    cellular energy through respiration and oxidation;
    • Golgi Apparatus-net-like staining bodies commonly found in cells
    engaged in secretion
    • Endoplasmic Reticulum or Ergastoplasm- a cytoplasmic double
    membrane folded in layers that appear to be connected with the
    cell membranes. In the certain areas, the endoplasmic reticulum
    is associated with the ribosomes.
    Organelles are observed in the eukaryotes:
    • Ribosomes- small particles which may be free floating in the
    cytoplasm or attached to the endoplasmic reticulum. They play
    an important role in the synthesis of proteins.
    • Centromere and the accompanying Centriole – organelle that
    duplicates itself and shows continuous inheritance between cell
    generations; and
    • Chloroplasts – plastids in plant cell which contain chlorophyll
    and serve as the photosynthetic factory of the plants.
    The Nucleus
    • The primary director of cellular activity and inheritance
    • Surrounded by a double membrane that appears in active contact
    with the endoplasmic reticulum and the cell membrane.
    • The nuclear content consists of a dark network or chromatin,
    which during the cell division becomes distinct bodies or
    chromosomes. One or more spherical bodies, nucleoli, may be
    found attached to specific chromosome regions.
    The Chromosome Structure
    • Chromosomes usually maintain constant size and shape at a
    specific stages of the cell cycle.
    • The condensed of the chromosome may be as short as ¼ micron
    (in fungi and birds) or as long as 30 microns in Trillium sp.
    Morphological markers of Mitotic
    Chromosome:
    1. Centromere or primary
    constriction
    • Each chromosome has a single
    differentiated region along its
    length which acts as the point of
    association between the
    chromosome and the spindle.
    • This is the same point at which
    force is exerted in the separation of
    dividing chromosomes.
    Centromere
    • The centromere is a permanent
    well-defined region of the
    chromosome where the
    kinetochore proteins attach to.
    • The spindle fibers bind to the
    kinetochore and the
    depolymerization of the spindle
    fibers enables the chromosome to
    move to the opposite poles.
    Centromere
    • The position of the
    centromere along the
    length of the
    chromosome contributes
    to the shape of the
    chromosome during the
    cell division.
    2. Secondary constriction
    • More than one constriction may be
    observed in some chromosome
    and these are referred to as
    secondary constrictions.
    • The pinching off of a small
    chromosomal section forms the
    satellite. This secondary
    constriction is often associated
    with regions where the nucleolus is
    formed or attached.
    3. Nucleolus-organizing region
    • The organization of the nucleolus is the function of a specific point
    on a particular chromosome.
    • When a nucleolus is visible, it can be seen to be attached to this
    nucleolus-organizer.
    4. Chromomeres and knobs
    • When a mitotic chromosome is
    stretched out it would be observed to
    consist of a string of characteristic
    particles of unequal sizes at unequal
    distances apart.
    • The smaller “beads of string” are
    called chromomeres; the larger ones
    are called knobs.
    THANK YOU

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