Human Chromosome Under The Microscope 🔬

Human chromosome can be seen under a light microscope during cell division, the reproduction of cells. The nucleus is where DNA is located, when it under goes division the process is call mitosis. When the DNA replicates, so too does the rest of the organelles in the cytoplasm (every else in the cell). This results in two daughter cells which are identical.

Can you see the squiggly lines in the cell? Those are the chromosomes.

During cell division, the chromosomes coil itself to compact it in a way to duplicate, this is why we can see it more clearly. We have 23 pairs of chromosomes, totaling 46 chromosomes. However people with Down syndrome have a total of 47 chromosomes, they have one extra chromosome.

There are different phases in cell division and these phases can be seen under the light microscope due to the location or the chromosomes. Too bad the slide I have doesn’t contain all the phases; however I did find this one which is the metaphase, where they line up in the middle before they are pulled apart. (see below image)

Out of the 23 pairs of chromosomes we have, one of the pair is known as the sex chromosome. It determines whether we are a male or female. Females have two ‘x’ chromosomes (XX), whereas males have one ‘x’ and one ‘y’ chromosome (XY).

So when a baby is made, each parent gives one of their paired chromosomes. Since the mother only has X to give, it is all up to the father to determine the sex of the baby. So if you wanted a particular sex of a baby but didn’t get it, you can blame the father hehehehe just kidding.