Asymmetry in sister chromatids of human chromosomes

Abstract

Human metaphase chromosomes show identical lateral bands in sister chromatids when stained with quinacrine mustard or with Giemsa after trypsin treatment. A hybrid of these two methods produces banding patterns that are different in sister chromatids. Homologs may have similar patterns, so that a given chromatid is more like a homologous chromatid than its sister chromatid. It is suggested that asymmetry of sister chromatids may be important in regular mitotic disjunction.