Question

What are the types of chromosomes on the basis of location of centromere?

Answer 1

Four types of chromosomes on the basis of location of centromere are:
1. Metacentric : The centromere is exactly at the mid-point in this chromosome, and therefore the chromosome looks like the English letter ‘V’. The arms of this chromosome are equal in length.
2. Sub-metacentric : The centromere is somewhere near the mid-point in this chromosome which therefore looks like English letter ‘L’. One arm is slightly shorter than the other.
3. Acrocentric : The centromere is near one end of this chromosome which therefore looks like the English letter ‘j’. One arm is much smaller than other.
4. Telocentric : The centromere is right at the end of this chromosome making the chromosome look like the English letter ‘i’. This chromosome consists of only one arm.