Description
Chromatin is a complex of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and protein found in the eukaryotic cell nucleus whose primary function is packaging very long DNA molecules into a more compact, denser shape, which prevents the strands from becoming tangled. It also plays an important role in reinforcing the DNA during cell division, preventing DNA damage and regulating gene expression. Chromatid on the other hand, is a replicated chromosome having two daughter strands joined by a single centromere (the two strands separate during cell division to become individual chromosomes).
Presence
Chromatid is created only when the cell undergoes mitosis or meiosis whereas chromatin occurs throughout the cell’s life cycle.
Occurrence
Chromatids may be sister or non-sister chromatids. A sister chromatid is either one of the two chromatids of the same chromosome joined together by a common centromere. During cell division, they are separated from each other, and each daughter cell receives one copy of the chromosome. Chromatin is divided into heterochromatin (condensed) and euchromatin (extended) forms. Heterochromatin is a tightly packed form of chromatin that can silence gene transcription whereas Euchromatin is less condensed and contains most actively transcribed genes.
Structure
Chromatin is comprised of histones and DNA: 147 base pairs of DNA wraps around the 8 core histones to form the basic chromatin unit, the nucleosome. The structure of sister chromatids change throughout the entire stages of cell division.
Function
The function of chromatin is to efficiently package DNA into small volume to fit into the nucleus of the cell and protect the DNA structure and sequence. On the contrary, the main function of chromatid especially in mitosis and meiosis is to keep the proper DNA count where it needs to be.
Centromere
Sister chromatids have centromeres whereas heterochromatin and euchromatin do not have the centromores.
Difference Between Chromatid And Chromatin In Tabular Form
| Basis of Comparison | Chromatin | Chromatid |
| Definition | Chromatin is a complex of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and protein found in the eukaryotic cell nucleus whose primary function is packaging very long DNA molecules into a more compact, denser shape, which prevents the strands from becoming tangled. It also plays an important role in reinforcing the DNA during cell division, preventing DNA damage and regulating gene expression. | Chromatid on the other hand, is a replicated chromosome having two daughter strands joined by a single centromere (the two strands separate during cell division to become individual chromosomes). |
| Presence | Chromatin occurs throughout the cell’s life cycle. | Chromatid is created only when the cell undergoes mitosis or meiosis. |
| Chromatin is divided into heterochromatin (condensed) and euchromatin (extended) forms. Heterochromatin is a tightly packed form of chromatin that can silence gene transcription whereas Euchromatin is less condensed and contains most actively transcribed genes. | Chromatids may be sister or non-sister chromatids. A sister chromatid is either one of the two chromatids of the same chromosome joined together by a common centromere. During cell division, they are separated from each other, and each daughter cell receives one copy of the chromosome. | |
| Structure | Chromatin is comprised of histones and DNA: 147 base pairs of DNA wraps around the 8 core histones to form the basic chromatin unit, the nucleosome. | The structure of sister chromatids change throughout the entire stages of cell division. |
| Function | The function of chromatin is to efficiently package DNA into small volume to fit into the nucleus of the cell and protect the DNA structure and sequence. | The main function of chromatid especially in mitosis and meiosis is to keep the proper DNA count where it needs to be. |
| Centromere | Heterochromatin and euchromatin do not have the centromores. | Sister chromatids have centromeres. |
Summary
Chromatin is a complex of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and protein found in the eukaryotic cell nucleus whose primary function is packaging very long DNA molecules into a more compact, denser shape, which prevents the strands from becoming tangled. . Chromatid on the other hand, is a replicated chromosome having two daughter strands joined by a single centromere (the two strands separate during cell division to become individual chromosomes).