Chapter 2. A Genome Overview at the Level of Chromosomes
Published Online: 20 JUN 2002
DOI: 10.1002/0471220566.ch2
Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Book Title
Genomics: The Science and Technology Behind the Human Genome Project
Additional Information
How to Cite
Cantor, C. R. and Smith, C. L. (2002) A Genome Overview at the Level of Chromosomes, in Genomics: The Science and Technology Behind the Human Genome Project, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, USA. doi: 10.1002/0471220566.ch2
Publication History
- Published Online: 20 JUN 2002
- Published Print: 2 FEB 1999
ISBN Information
Print ISBN: 9780471599081
Online ISBN: 9780471220565
- Summary
- Chapter
Keywords:
- genome;
- chromosomes;
- bacterial chromosomes;
- eukaryotic organisms;
- centromeres;
- telomeres;
- chromatin;
- cell cycle;
- mitochondria;
- synteny
Summary
Chromosomes are the fundamental elements of inheritance, since it is they that are passed from cell to daughter cell, from parent to progeny. Indeed a cell that did not need to reproduce would not have to keep its DNA organized into specific large molecules. Some single-cell organisms, like the ciliate Tetrahymena, actually fragment a working copy of their DNA into gene-sized pieces for expression while maintaining an unbroken master copy for reproductive purposes. This chapter presents a genome overview at the level of chromosomes.