Letter C

Chromosome, acentric

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An abnormal chromosome (a microscopically visible carrier of the genetic material DNA) with two centromeres rather than the normal one.

The centromere is essential for the division of the chromosome.

A dicentric chromosome is twice tethered and so is pulled in opposite directions when the cell divides and this causes the chromosome to form a bridge and then break.

Dicentric chromosomes are a cause of chromosome instability.

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