Question

Difference between centrosome and chromosome?

Answer 1

Chromosome:

1. A chromosome is a lengthy DNA molecule that contains all or part of an organism's genetic material.
2. In the cells of both plants and animals, they are found inside the nucleus.
3. Each chromosome contains DNA and associated proteins, known as histone proteins.

Centrosome:

1. The centrosome is an organelle that regulates the progression of the cell cycle and acts as the primary microtubule organizing center (MTOC) of the animal cell.
2. One centrosome from the parent cell is transmitted to each daughter cell during cell division. Centrosome division begins in proliferating cells before the S-phase begins.
3. The centrosome organizes an astral ray of microtubules during interphase, which aids in intracellular transport, cell adhesion, cell polarity, etc.

S.no	Chromosome	Centrosome
1.	They are the part of the nucleus that gets divided during cell division.	They are the cell organelle present inside the cell and help in the division of the cell.
2.	They are present in every organism.	They are absent in plant cells.
3.	The number of chromosomes present varies from organism to organism; in humans 23 pairs of chromosomes are present, and drosophila has only four chromosomes.	Only one pair of centrioles are present in every cell.
4.	Spindle fibers released by centrioles during cell division attach to the centrosome of the chromosome and divide the chromosome pair into two halves.	They consist of 2 cylindrical structures which are perpendicular to each other.