Stability of centromere-center distances in normal human metaphases.
Centromere-center distances were analyzed in 50 normal female and 100 normal male metaphases. Compared with the random distribution of all chromosomes, chromosome pair 6 had a significantly different distribution in both female and male metaphases. Moreover, a significant peripheral location of chromosome pairs 4 and 5 and a significant central location of chromosome pairs 13, 15, 21, and 22 were found in male metaphases. But no specific peripheral location could be assigned to the X or Y chromosomes. No inter- nor intraindividual differences or sex-dependent variation in centromere-center distances were observed. Variance analyses demonstrated consistent centromere-center distances in normal human metaphases obtained from individuals of the same age. The constancy of these chromosome distributions may correlate with chromosome duplication pattern, chromosome length, and chromosome structure.
D000328:Adult; D002875:Chromosomes; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008938:Mitosis; D012730:Sex Chromosomes; D012737:Sex Factors