Letter C

Chromosome map

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A chromosome (one of the microscopically visible carriers of the genetic material DNA) with its centromere (the "waist" of the chromosome) located quite near one end of the chromosome.

The "acro-" in acrocentric comes from the Greek "akron" meaning "the end." Humans have 5 pairs of acrocentric chromosomes.

Down syndrome (trisomy 21) is due to an extra acrocentric chromosome, namely chromosome 21.

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