What are Chromosomes

Chromosomes contain all of your genetic material.

Chromosomes contain the genetic material - DNA. The long molecule of DNA in your cells are organised into pieces called Chromosomes. The twisted strands of DNA become coiled and folded which give Chromosomes a beaded appearance. Each bead represents a gene. There are thought to be over 500 genes on each of the cells 46 Chromosomes.

Humans have 46 Chromosomes or two set of 23 (or simply 23 pairs of Chromosomes). One Chromosome of each pair comes from your mother and the other from your father.

Different species have different numbers of chromosomes, even though we
share many of the same genes.

For example the Field Tail Horse plant has 216 Chromosomes compared to that of a human which only has 46.

Number of Chromosomes found in other species:
Field Tale Horse Plants: have 216 Chromosomes.		Crayfish: have 200 Chromosomes.
Dogs: have 78 Chromosomes.		Chimpanzees: have 48 Chromosomes.
Humans: have 46 Chromosomes.		Mice: have 40 Chromosomes.
A House Fly: has 12 Chromosomes.		A tiny Ant: has only 2 Chromosomes.

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