Abstract
A new functional type of chromosome in eukaryotes is described, involved in the orientation, driving or leading of the remaining chromosomes from the equatorial plate towards the poles of a dividing cell. This is the leader chromosome or forwarded chromosome, one for each haploid chromosomal set of the cell. This type of chromosome was identified long ago, both, in normal and mutagenic conditions.
Untill now, no explanation for its existence has been proposed. When these chromosomes reach the poles of a dividing cell, they themselves constitute a milestone, as “the first beginning” for the organization of a superchromosomal structure in which every chromosome, belonging to a haploid set (nonhomologous chromosomes) enters in an ordered fashion by attaching through its telomere to a previous one. This results in a huge ring of nonhomologous chromosomes. This is a proper arrangement of interphase chromosomes which is a “sine qua non” condition for an ordered function of the genes and for a correct replication of the genetic material in eukaryotes. We have baptized this chromosome-which itself constitutes a milestone or marker for initiation of superchromosomal structure building-the Genome-Organizing-Chromosome (GOC).
