Definition
noun, plural: subtelocentric chromosomes
A chromosome whose centromere is placed near the end rather than the center of the chromosome
Supplement
The centromere is the dense, constricted region in a chromosome. It contains highly-specialized repetitive DNA sequences (e.g. satellite DNA) that are packaged into heterochromatin. The centromere serves as the site for kinetochore assembly and therefore it is essential during the alignment of the chromosomes at the metaphase plate and the subsequent segregation of chromosomes during cellular division. The presence of the centromere results in the characterization of the chromosomal arms. The arm that is relatively shorter is called p whereas the one that is longer is called q. Based on the position of the centromere, the chromosome may be described as metacentric, submetacentric, acrocentric, telocentric, subtelocentric, and holocentric.
A subtelocentric chromosome has a centromere located near the end than at the center of the chromosome. The p arm of the chromosome is barely visible. It should not be confused with acrocentric chromosome whose centromere is also farther from the center. A subtelocentric chromosome would have a centromere that is comparatively nearer to the end than that of the acrocentric chromosome. A chromosome with a centromere that is closest to the end is termed telocentric chromosome.
Humans do not possess subtelocentric chromosomes.
See also:
Dictionary > Subtelocentric chromosome
