Chromosome(s) (Chromo- + Greek Soma Body)

Chromosomes are one of the main elements of the structure of the cell nucleus. Each chromosome contains deoxyribucleic acid (DNA) and is a means of passing hereditary traits from parents to offspring.

Chromosomes were first described at the end of the 19th century by the German biologist Wilhelm Runge. He discovered that during meiosis, the process by which sex cells are formed, the cell nuclei became brighter and more visible. Runge believed that this was due to the appearance of chromosomes, which he called Karyorines. This word was formed from two Greek words: "karyon" (core) and "kenom" (tail).

But only 20 years later, in 1911, the American geneticist Thomas Hunt proposed the term “chromosome” to describe this structure. The word "chromosomy" was chosen because the chromosomes in a cell are really like a chromosome - bodies of different shapes and sizes that twist and connect together during cell division.

Each chromosome consists of two strands of DNA, which are a helix of deoxynucleotide units. The threads are intertwined with each other and form a kind of “thread”. These strands, known as heterochromic material, form the basic structure of the chromosome. At the intersections of the strands there are sections of DNA that have a certain significance for the development of the organism.

The number of chromosomes can greatly