Chromosome 2

Chromosome 2 is one of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in humans. People normally have two copies of this chromosome. Chromosome 2 is the second largest human chromosome, spanning more than 242 million base pairs and representing almost 8% of the total DNA in cells.

Pronunciation

Chromosome 2 is pronounced as /ˈkroʊməˌsoʊm tuː/

Etymology

The term "chromosome" comes from the Greek words "chroma" or color and "soma" or body. The number 2 denotes that it is the second largest chromosome in the human genome.

Description

Chromosome 2 contains the coding information for approximately 1,200 to 1,300 genes. These genes are responsible for various functions in the human body. Some of the important genes located on Chromosome 2 include ALMS1, which is associated with Alström syndrome, and COL3A1, which is associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Related Terms

Gene: A gene is a unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.
DNA: DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms.
Base pair: A base pair is a fundamental unit of double-stranded nucleic acids consisting of two nucleobases bound to each other by hydrogen bonds.
ALMS1: ALMS1 is a gene that provides instructions for producing a protein that is found in cells throughout the body and plays a major role in the function of cilia.
COL3A1: COL3A1 is a gene that provides instructions for making a component of type III collagen, which is found in skin, lungs, and vascular system.