Which term describes the two identical halves of a replicated chromosome?

Which term describes the two identical halves of a replicated chromosome?

• A. Chromosome
• B. Chromatids
• C. Chromatin
• D. Pedigree chart

Answer: (B)

After DNA is copied, a chromosome now consists of two identical copies held together at the centromere. These two identical halves are chromatids (more precisely, sister chromatids). They contain the same genetic information and are poised to separate during cell division, so each new daughter cell gets a full set of chromosomes. Chromatin refers to the relaxed form of DNA-protein complex when it’s not condensed into chromosomes, so it isn’t describing the replicated halves. A chromosome by itself is a single DNA molecule, and a pedigree chart is unrelated to chromosome structure. So the term for the two identical halves is chromatids.

After DNA is copied, a chromosome now consists of two identical copies held together at the centromere. These two identical halves are chromatids (more precisely, sister chromatids). They contain the same genetic information and are poised to separate during cell division, so each new daughter cell gets a full set of chromosomes. Chromatin refers to the relaxed form of DNA-protein complex when it’s not condensed into chromosomes, so it isn’t describing the replicated halves. A chromosome by itself is a single DNA molecule, and a pedigree chart is unrelated to chromosome structure. So the term for the two identical halves is chromatids.