Chromatid
Overview
A chromatid is one of the two identical copies of DNA making up a duplicated chromosome
, which are joined at their centromere
s, for the process of cell division
(mitosis
or meiosis
). They are called sister chromatids
so long as they are joined by the centromeres. When they separate (during anaphase
of mitosis and anaphase 2 of meiosis), the strands are called daughter chromosomes.
In other words, a chromatid is "one-half of a replicated chromosome".
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
, which are joined at their centromere
Centromere
A centromere is a region of DNA typically found near the middle of a chromosome where two identical sister chromatids come closest in contact. It is involved in cell division as the point of mitotic spindle attachment...
s, for the process of cell division
Cell division
Cell division is the process by which a parent cell divides into two or more daughter cells . Cell division is usually a small segment of a larger cell cycle. This type of cell division in eukaryotes is known as mitosis, and leaves the daughter cell capable of dividing again. The corresponding sort...
(mitosis
Mitosis
Mitosis is the process by which a eukaryotic cell separates the chromosomes in its cell nucleus into two identical sets, in two separate nuclei. It is generally followed immediately by cytokinesis, which divides the nuclei, cytoplasm, organelles and cell membrane into two cells containing roughly...
or meiosis
Meiosis
Meiosis is a special type of cell division necessary for sexual reproduction. The cells produced by meiosis are gametes or spores. The animals' gametes are called sperm and egg cells....
). They are called sister chromatids
Sister chromatids
Sister chromatids are two identical copies of a chromatid connected by a centromere. Compare sister chromatids to homologous chromosomes, which are the two different copies of the same chromosome that diploid organisms inherit, one from each parent...
so long as they are joined by the centromeres. When they separate (during anaphase
Anaphase
Anaphase, from the ancient Greek ἀνά and φάσις , is the stage of mitosis or meiosis when chromosomes move to opposite poles of the cell....
of mitosis and anaphase 2 of meiosis), the strands are called daughter chromosomes.
In other words, a chromatid is "one-half of a replicated chromosome".
