The region within a chromosome where DNA is present, as part of the structure, but has no genetic significance. When chromosomes are contracted in cell division, the centromere appears as a narrowed region because the DNA is not coiled. Its position on a chromosome is a distinctive feature enabling homologues to be identified. Centromere positions are described as median, terminal, subterminal, etc. (see also acrocentric , metacentric , telocentric ) and are useful taxonomic characters. * Kinetochores are situated in the centromere region and these attach chromosomes to the equatorial region of the * spindle during cell division. |
