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Why does the inactive x appear to stain much darker than the other chromosomes?

User Tin Megali
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The inactive X is called also as Barr body. It stains much darker than the other chromosomes because of the fact that it is inactive. By being inactive it means that the chromatin of that chromosome is very compact because it is not used for gene expression. Being so compact, all the staining is concentrated creating a darker body.

User Gimhani
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