In
genetics
Genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms.Hartl D, Jones E (2005) It is an important branch in biology because heredity is vital to organisms' evolution. Gregor Mendel, a Moravian Augustinian friar worki ...
, a polycentric chromosome is any
chromosome
A chromosome is a long DNA molecule with part or all of the genetic material of an organism. In most chromosomes the very long thin DNA fibers are coated with packaging proteins; in eukaryotic cells the most important of these proteins ar ...
featuring multiple
centromere
The centromere links a pair of sister chromatids together during cell division. This constricted region of chromosome connects the sister chromatids, creating a short arm (p) and a long arm (q) on the chromatids. During mitosis, spindle fibers ...
s. Polycentric chromosomes are produced by chromosomal aberrations such as deletion, duplication, or
translocation
Translocation may refer to:
* Chromosomal translocation, a chromosome abnormality caused by rearrangement of parts
** Robertsonian translocation, a chromosomal rearrangement in pairs 13, 14, 15, 21, and 22
** Nonreciprocal translocation, transfer ...
. Polycentric chromosomes usually result in the death of the cell because polycentric chromosomes may fail to move to opposite poles of
spindle fiber during
anaphase
Anaphase () is the stage of mitosis after the process of metaphase, when replicated chromosomes are split and the newly-copied chromosomes (daughter chromatids) are moved to opposite poles of the cell. Chromosomes also reach their overall max ...
. As a result, the chromosome is fragmented, which causes the
death of the cell. In some
algae
Algae ( , ; : alga ) are any of a large and diverse group of photosynthetic, eukaryotic organisms. The name is an informal term for a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from ...
, such as ''
Spirogyra'', polycentric chromosomes appear normally.
References
Chromosomes
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