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Concept Check: Chromosomes vs Chromatids

Started by ericd8
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You're close. A chromatid is one copy of a duplicated chromosome. It is usually joined to another chromatid at the centromere, forming a complex called a "sister chromatid pair." After duplication, you are correct in saying that you have 92 chromatids (46 sister chromatid pairs). However, after cytokinesis, the 46 pieces of DNA in each new cell are just called chromosomes, not chromatids, so you would not say that you have 46 chromatids representing 46 chromosomes. It's just 46 chromosomes.