DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic material of living organisms.

In humans,
DNA is found in almost all the cells of the body and provides the instructions they need
to grow, function, and respond to their environment.

When a cell in the body divides, it will pass on a copy of its DNA to each of its daughter
cells. DNA is also passed on at the level of organisms, with the DNA in sperm and egg
cells combining to form a new organism that has genetic material from both its parents.

Physically speaking, DNA is a long string of paired chemical units (nucleotides) that
come in four different types, abbreviated A, T, C, and G, and it carries information
organized into units called genes. Genes typically provide instructions for making
proteins, which give cells and organisms their functional characteristics.

A cell’s set of DNA is called its genome. Since all of the cells in an organism (with a few
exceptions) contain the same DNA, you can also say that an organism has its own
genome, and since the members of a species typically have similar genomes, you can
also describe the genome of a species. In general, when people refer to the human
genome, or any other eukaryotic genome, they mean the set of DNA found in the nucleus. Mitochondria and
chloroplasts are considered to have their own separate genomes.

A nucleosome is a section of DNA that is wrapped around a core of proteins. Inside the nucleus, DNA forms a complex
with proteins called chromatin, which allows the DNA to be condensed into a smaller volume. When the chromatin is
extended and viewed under a microscope, the structure resembles beads on a string. Each of these tiny beads is a called
a nucleosome and is the fundamental subunit of chromatin. Each nucleosome is composed of a little less than two turns
of DNA wrapped around a set of eight proteins called histones, which are known as a histone octamer. Each histone
octamer is composed of two copies each of the histone proteins H2A, H2B, H3, and H4. The chain of nucleosomes is
then compacted further and forms a highly organized complex of DNA and protein called a chromosome. Sister
chromatid are two copies of DNA joined at a centromere. Homologous Chromosome is two chromosomes that make up
a pair in a diploid cell. The term ‘homologous’ means ‘similar but not identical’. Thus homologous chromosomes are a
pair, one inherited from the egg and one from the sperm, which physically appear identical but have subtle differences
between them. They associate at the first stage of meiosis and one of each pair is passed to each of the daughter cells.
Tetrad is formed during prophase 1 of meiosis and it is the replicated homologous chromosomes joined together at
synapses.

Microtubule are tubular scaffolding (polymers of tubulin)

components of the cytoskeleton, forming hollow cylinders. They are
associated with plasma membranes and with the formation of the
spindle during cell division. Microtubules play a key role in forming
the mitotic spindle, also called the spindle apparatus. This is a
structure that is formed during mitosis (cell division) in eukaryotic
cells. The mitotic spindle which are called spindle fibers during
mitosis organizes and separates chromosomes during cell division
so that the chromosomes can be partitioned into two separate
daughter cells. Its components include microtubules, the MTOC,
and microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). Centrosome is a
structure present in the cytoplasm of animal cells that functions as a
microtubule-organizing center and is important during cell division. A
centrosome has two centrioles. Centrioles are located near the nucleus
of animal and protist cells and are associated with the spindle during
cell division. Spindle fibers form a protein structure that divides the
genetic material in a cell. The spindle is necessary to equally divide the
chromosomes in a parental cell into two daughter cells during both
types of nuclear division: mitosis and meiosis. During mitosis, the
spindle fibers are called the mitotic spindle. Meanwhile, during meiosis,
the spindle fibers are referred to as the meiotic spindle.
A centromere is part of the region on the
chromosome that links the two sister chromatids
together. This consists of the total DNA in that region
and various proteins associated with that region,
including the kinetochore.

The kinetochore is a large protein complex that

forms on centromeric DNA. This complex is essential
for attaching to the spindle fibres that originate from
the centrosomes.