Definition
A region of the chromosome by which sister chromatids are linked during meiosis and mitosis. Chromosomes attach to the mitotic spindle via the centromere during cell division.
Use in clinical context
A centromere is a constricted region of the chromosome and separates the short arm (also known as the p arm) and the long arm (also known as the q arm) of the chromosome. There are no genes within the centromeres, but they are important structures during cell division as they are where sister chromatids join and are the anchor point for the spindle in both meiosis and mitosis. Centromeres are highly repetitive stretches of DNA, which makes accurately sequencing this region difficult.
Related terms
Cell division | Chromatid | Chromosome | Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) | Meiosis | Mitosis | Sister chromatids | Spindle
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