Of the 23 pairs, 22 are known as autosomes. Females have a pair of X chromosomes, males have an X and Y chromosome. An individual chromosome, too small to be seen by the naked eye, is made up of a single molecule of double-stranded DNA deoxyribonucleic acid and protein.
As mentioned above, the DNA molecule is formed in the shape of a double helix, similar in shape to a spiralling twisted ladder. These bases help form the double helix when two base pairs link together, with A only linking to T and C only linking to G.
These bases are also important because they code for proteins of the body. Each gene has the coding information for a protein or polypeptide, or a sequence of another type of nucleic acid called RNA ribonucleic acid. Thus, the human genome codes for all the proteins in the body. Organisms that reproduce asexually are haploid. Sexually reproducing organisms are diploid having two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent. In humans, only their egg and sperm cells are haploid.
Haploid refers to a cell or an organism that has only a single set of chromosomes. Because all diploid human cells have two copies of the chromosome that determines blood type, the blood type the trait is determined by which two versions of the marker gene are inherited. It is possible to have two copies of the same gene sequence, one on each homologous chromosome for example, AA, BB, or OO , or two different sequences, such as AB.
Minor variations in traits such as those for blood type, eye color, and height contribute to the natural variation found within a species. The sex chromosomes, X and Y, are the single exception to the rule of homologous chromosomes; other than a small amount of homology that is necessary to reliably produce gametes, the genes found on the X and Y chromosomes are not the same.
Prokaryotes have a single loop chromosome, whereas eukaryotes have multiple, linear chromosomes surrounded by a nuclear membrane. Human somatic cells have 46 chromosomes consisting of two sets of 22 homologous chromosomes and a pair of nonhomologous sex chromosomes. This is the 2 n, or diploid, state. Human gametes have 23 chromosomes or one complete set of chromosomes. Most questions answered within 4 hours.
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