Chromosomes are genetic material present in the cell nucleus. Chromatids are the parts of the chromosome present as two arms.
Differences Between Chromosomes and Chromatids
Sl. No | Characteristics | Chromosomes | Chromatids |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Basic | They are nuclear components and play a vital role in the heredity, mutation, variation, and evolutionary development of the species | These are components of chromosomes. During mitosis, the chromosomes have two asymmetrical structures called chromatids |
2 | Occurrence | The chromosome occurs throughout the cell’s life cycle. | Chromatids are seen or observed during cell division by either mitosis or meiosis |
3 | Replication | The chromosomes are capable of self-replication. | The chromatids do not self replicate on their own. |
4 | Amount of DNA | The chromosomes are tightly packed with DNA. The DNA is found in the chromosome throughout its structure. | The chromatids help in the unwinding of DNA during the replication process. |
5 | Exact copied of each other | The chromosome lacks this. Homologous chromosomes may have different forms of a trait with one copy of a gene from the parent. | The chromatids have the same copies of each other. |
6 | Centromere | Chromosomes have centromere in their structure. | They usually do not have a centromere in their structure. But the sister chromatids posses centromere. |
7 | Function | The chromosomes are the genetic material of the cell. It helps in the heredity and evolution of species . | The chromatid, on the other hand, helps the cell to duplicate and pass on in the next generation. |
8 | Macromolecule Synthesis | The DNA of the chromosome in this synthesis of macromolecule is not used | The DNA of the chromatids are used up during this process of synthesis. |
9 | DNA Molecule | the chromosomes have a linear set of gene or DNA in its strands. | Each chromatid bears a single DNA molecule. |
10 | Coiling | The chromosomes are extensively coiled with a protein called chromatin. | The chromatids are less coiled in comparison with chromosomes. |
11 | Interdependence | The chromosomes are independent nuclear material. | The chromatids are the units of chromosomes. They are dependent on chromosomes. |