chromatin vs. chromosome

chromatin vs. chromosome: What’s the difference?

Chromatin is a substance found in the cell nucleus that’s composed primarily of DNA and proteins. When cells divide, chromatin condenses to form chromosomes, threadlike structures that consist of a single molecule of DNA. The chromosome is what carries the genes (in humans, it holds 23 pairs of genes).

chromatin

[kroh-muh-tin] / ˈkroʊ mə tɪn /

noun

Cell Biology.

the readily stainable substance of a cell nucleus, consisting of DNA, RNA, and various proteins, that forms chromosomes during cell division.

chromosome

[kroh-muh-sohm] / ˈkroʊ məˌsoʊm /

noun

Genetics.

any of several threadlike bodies, consisting of chromatin, that carry the genes in a linear order: the human species has 23 pairs, designated 1 to 22 in order of decreasing size and X and Y for the sex-determining chromosomes.