Chromosomes are thread-like structures found in the nucleus of cells in the human body. They contain the genetic information necessary for the body to grow and develop. There are 22 autosomal chromosomes (named by number) and 2 sex chromosomes (X and Y). Each person has 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 chromosomes total) for almost every cell in his or her body, with 1 chromosome from the mother and 1 from the father. Reproductive cells contain only one copy of each chromosome (23 chromosomes in all). Chromosomal abnormalities occur when there is any change in the number or structure of chromosomes present as a result of an error during cell division. Such changes, which can occur in either autosomal chromosomes or sex chromosomes, alter the ...

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