Biology / Unit 4 Bio 0827 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Genome and Chromosome: Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic
Captions available
The idea
A genome is a cell's complete DNA; a prokaryote packages it as one circular chromosome in a nucleoid, while a eukaryote packages it as linear chromosomes in a nucleus.
In practice
A bacterium carries one circular chromosome and sometimes plasmids; a human cell carries 46 linear chromosomes.
Where people slip
A prokaryote's chromosome is not a simpler eukaryotic one — they differ in shape and number.
Your place on the trail
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