Question

Describe the basic structure of chromosomes .​

Answer 1

As seen in the graphic above, chromosomes have a very complex structure. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid makes the base of the structure, as seen on the far left. DNA is made of a two strings of nucleic acid base pairs. The base pairs in DNA are cytosine, adenine, thymine, and guanine. The spiral structure formed by the two strings of DNA is due to complimentary pairing between every base with its pair on the opposite string. Adenine pairs with thymine and guanine pairs with cytosine. The opposite side of the bases form a phosphate-deoxyribose backbone, which keeps the strands intact.

Answer 2

Answer: In the nucleus of each cell, the DNA molecule is packaged into thread-like structures called chromosomes