3.

2 Chromosomes
 Prokaryotic DNA
Prokaryotic DNA is a single, long, continuous,
circular thread.
Some prokaryotes also have plasmids.
Plasmids are small loops of DNA that are extra
copies of some of the genetic material of the
organism. They are not connected to the
main bacterial chromosome.
 Eukaryotic DNA
Is a single immensely long linear DNA molecule associated
with histone proteins.
Eukaryotes do not have plasmids.
Eukaryotes have more than one chromosome.
Chromosomes are organized into pairs
 Chromosomes
Chromosomes: gene-carrying structure in the
nucleus that stores/organizes DNA
Humans have 23 pairs for a total of 46
chromosomes (23 from mom, 23 from dad).

Homologous Chromosomes: pairs of

chromosomes similar in shape and size.
Pairs have one chromosome from mom and
one from dad.
Carry the same sequence of genes but
not necessarily the same alleles of
those genes.
 Splitting Of The Chromosome
The chromosome is made
up of sister chromatids
held together by a
centromere.
Looks like an x because
it has replicated.
Typically, the chromosome
will appear as a single
strand.
 Karyogram

Karyogram: is an image of the chromosomes of

an organism, arranged in homologous pairs of
decreasing length.
Karyotype: is the number and type of
chromosomes the organism has in its nuclei.
There are two types of chromosomes:
Autosomes: 22 pairs in our cells
Sex Chromosomes: 1 pair, this determines your sex.

Mouse Karyogram

The number of chromosomes is a feature that is

similar to all members of a species
Somatic cells (normal body cells - skin, heart) have a
nucleus that has chromosomes organized into pairs of
homologous chromosomes. They are diploid cells.

Gametes (sex cells) are haploid.

Haploid cells have nuclei that only have one
chromosome from each pair.