See Also: acrocentric chromosome(medicine)
Chromosome, acrocentric(health)
Acrocentric chromosome(health)
acrocentric(medicine)
Hegg Memorial Health Center Avera Health(health)
Divine Providence Health Center Avera Health(health)
Dells Area Health Center Avera Health(health)
sex chromosome(encyclopedia)
chromosome 15(medicine)
chromosome 14(medicine)

Chromosome, acrocentric (health)


A chromosome (one of the microscopically visible carriers of the genetic material DNA) with its centromere (the "waist" of the chromosome) located quite near one end of the chromosome. The "acro-" in acrocentric comes from the Greek "akron" meaning "the end." Humans have 5 pairs of acrocentric chromosomes. Down syndrome (trisomy 21) is due to an extra acrocentric chromosome, namely chromosome 21.