What is Centromere?

A centromere is a constricted region of a chromosome that splits the whole chromosome during cell division.

• It keeps the two arms of the chromosome together and splits the whole chromosome into a short part (p) and a long part (q).
• The centromere has two important parts called kinetochore and DNA-associated proteins.
• The centromere also can be called a middle “hub” of a chromosome where spindle fibers are connected. This helps the chromosome to move properly when cells are dividing, especially in the anaphase stage.

The word centromere came from two Greek words “Centro” and “Mere”, which mean “central” and “part” respectively. Centromere is a unique and well-maintained chromatin structure that plays a crucial role in the replication of chromosomes throughout the process of cell division. Centromeres do a lot of important jobs, like keeping sister chromatids together, moving chromosomes, sticking to microtubules, forming heterochromatin, and controlling the mitotic checkpoint.

In simple terms, centromeres are like the glue that holds chromosomes together. It also ensures that chromosomes are divided correctly when a cell splits in two. Let’s discuss more about the centromere with its structure, functionalities, and types in detail.