NEETBotanyCell - The Unit of Life
A chromosome has its primary constriction, which bears disc-shaped structures called kinetochores, located slightly away from the middle. This configuration results in the formation of:
Options
- AOne shorter p-arm and one longer q-arm
- BOne extremely short p-arm and one very long q-arm
- CTwo equal arms designated as p and q
- DA terminal primary constriction forming only a q-arm
Correct answer
A. One shorter p-arm and one longer q-arm
Step-by-step solution
The primary constriction of a chromosome is the centromere, and the disc-shaped structures on its sides are kinetochores. When the centromere is located slightly away from the middle of the chromosome, it is classified as a sub-metacentric chromosome. This specific position of the centromere divides the chromosome into two unequal arms: one shorter arm, which is designated as the p-arm, and one longer arm, which is designated as the q-arm. An extremely short and a very long arm would describe an acrocentric chromos