Question

Give an account on the chemical structure of the chromosomes.

Answer 1

Chemical structure of Chromosomes:

• Chemically, the eukaryotic chromosomes are composed of deoxyribonucleic and (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), histone and non-histone proteins and certain metallic ions.
• The histone proteins have basic properties and have significant role in controlling or regulating the functions of chromosomal DNA.
• The non-histone proteins are mostly acidic and have been considered more important than histones as regulatory molecules (see Goodenough and Levine, 1974).
• Some non-histone proteins also have enzymatic activities.
• The most important enzymatic proteins of chromosomes are phosphoproteins, DNA polymerase, RNA-polymerase, DPN-pyrophosphorylase, and nucleoside triphosphatase.
• The metal ions as Ca+ and Mg+ are supposed to maintain the oragnization of chromosomes intact.

     

Chromosomes:

• The chromosomes are considered as the physical basis of heredity.
• They ahve a special organization, individuality, functions and are capable of self-reproduction.