cromátides

Cromátides are one of two identical halves of a duplicated chromosome. During cell division, specifically in the S phase of the cell cycle, a chromosome replicates its DNA. This replication results in two identical copies of the chromosome, each called a cromátide. These two cromátides are attached to each other at a region called the centrómero. Before cell division begins, the cell prepares by condensing its chromosomes, making the cromátides visible under a microscope.

As the cell progresses through mitosis or meiosis, the spindle fibers attach to the centrómero of the chromosome. In mitosis, and in the first meiotic division, the sister cromátides are pulled apart towards opposite poles of the cell. Once separated, each cromátide is then considered an individual chromosome. In the second meiotic division, sister cromátides are also separated. The genetic material within each cromátide is identical, ensuring that the daughter cells receive a complete and accurate set of genetic information. The precise separation of cromátides is crucial for maintaining genomic stability.