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difference between chromatin and chromosomes

what is the difference between chromatin and chromosomes?
for instance, the chromosomes are unwound in the S phase and then the book states that the chromatin condenses in the mphase, i thought that the chromosomes condense beacause the DNA supercoils?
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Jpw1097
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Original post by esmeralda123
what is the difference between chromatin and chromosomes?
for instance, the chromosomes are unwound in the S phase and then the book states that the chromatin condenses in the mphase, i thought that the chromosomes condense beacause the DNA supercoils?


Chromatin refers to the loose structure of DNA that is seen during interphase, therefore most of the time DNA is in this form. This loose form enables transcriptional and replication machinery to bind to the DNA; if DNA is tightly packed, transcriptional machinery (e.g. RNA polymerase II) cannot bind to the DNA. During prophase, the nuclear envelope breaks down and the DNA condenses to form chromosomes, which is tightly packed and facilitates segregation of the DNA. The DNA decondenses back into chromatin during telophase.

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