Chromosome condensation

Chromosome condensation refers to the process by which dispersed interphase chromatin is transformed into a set of compact, rod-shaped structures during mitosis and meiosis (Figure 1).

The term "chromosome condensation" has long been used in biology. However, it is now increasingly recognized that mitotic chromosome condensation proceeds through mechanisms distinct from those governing "condensation" in physical chemistry (e.g., gas-to-liquid phase transitions) or the formation of "biomolecular condensates" in cell biology. Consequently, some researchers have argued that the term "chromosome condensation" may be misleading in this context. For this reason, alternative terms such as "chromosome assembly" or "chromosome formation" are also commonly used.