What is the Difference Between Metacentric and Telocentric Chromosomes?

Metacentric and telocentric chromosomes are two types of chromosomes based on the position of the centromere, which is the constriction point of a chromosome. The main differences between these two types of chromosomes are:

• Metacentric Chromosomes: These chromosomes have a centromere located in the middle of the chromosome, resulting in arms of comparable length (e.g., chromosomes 1, 3, 16, 19, 20). Metacentric chromosomes have two equal arms.
• Telocentric Chromosomes: These chromosomes have a centromere located at the end of the chromosome, meaning no p arm exists (chromosome not found in humans). Telocentric chromosomes have only one characteristic arm.

In summary, the key difference between metacentric and telocentric chromosomes is the position of the centromere: centromeres are located in the middle of the chromosome in metacentric chromosomes, whereas they are located at the end of the chromosome in telocentric chromosomes.

Comparative Table: Metacentric vs Telocentric Chromosomes

The main difference between metacentric and telocentric chromosomes lies in the position of the centromere. Here is a comparison table highlighting the key differences:

In metacentric chromosomes, the centromere is located at the center of the chromosome, dividing it into two equal arms, known as the p and q arms. In contrast, telocentric chromosomes have their centromeres located at one end of the chromosome, resulting in one characteristic arm. Telocentric chromosomes are not found in humans.