Chromosomes are thin strands of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).
They are subdivided into geneThe basic unit of genetic material inherited from our parents. A gene is a section of DNA which controls part of a cell's chemistry - particularly protein production..
In most cells, chromosomesGenetic structures that usually occur in functional pairs in the nucleus of cells (except in gametes and bacteria). are located in functional pairs in the nucleus Control centre of a cell containing genetic material..
Humans have 46 chromosomes arranged in 23 pairs.
In contrast, gameteSex cell (sperm in males and ova/eggs in females). do not have pairs of chromosomes in their nuclei and bacterial cells do not have a nucleusThe nucleus controls what happens inside the cell. Chromosomes are structures found in the nucleus of most cells. The plural of nucleus is nuclei..
The entire genetic material of an organismAnimal, plant or microorganism. is known as the genomeThe complete set of DNA found in an organism..
Genes
A gene is a short length of DNA found on a chromosome that codes for a particular characteristic or protein.
Alleles are different forms of the same gene. For example, eye colour is the gene but blue, green, brown etc. are alleles.