Question

What is the difference between chromosome, chromatin, and chromatid? Please provide examples.

Answer 1

Chromatin is a structure madeup of DNA and proteins. The main function of chromatin is to pack long DNA molecules into more compact, denser structures. This helps DNA in preventing from becoming tangled, preventing damage to DNA and also helps in gene expression and DNA regulation.

Chromatid is one half of the replicated chromosome. In the process of cell division, chromosomes are replicated and identical chromosomes are joined together at their centromeres. Each of these strand or replication is called a chromatid. Once linked to each other, sister chromatids separate from each other to form daughter chromosome.

Chromosome is a genetic material that is responsible for the heriditary of an organism. It contains all the genetic information of an organism.Each chromosome is madeup of protein and single molecule of DNA. chromosomes are located inside the nucleus of the cell.

Both chromatin and chromatid are the components of the chromosomes. Yet there are functional differences between chromatid, chromatin and chromosomes.
Chromosomes occurs throughout the cell life cycle where as chromatid and chromatin occurs during cell division.
Chromosomes involves in the replication of DNA while the chromatin involves in the protection of DNA and chromatid helps in the process of replication by allowing the cells to replicate.
DNA is utilized by the chromosomes for synthesis of macromolecuels but chromatin and chromatid cannot utilize DNA molecule.