Judy Witte, age J., of Valley, Neb., for her question:

What are chromosomes?

The word chromosome means colored body. It takes us to that tiny world of the microscope and the study of cells. All plants and animals are composed of the minute units called cells, so small that they can be studied only under a microscope. The smallest of plants and animals are composed of just one single cell.

For proper viewing cell tissue is stained with dyes and mounted on a glass slide. Some parts of the tissue stain more brightly than others and this helps to point up the structure of the tissue. Each living cell is filled with a pale blob of jelly called protoplasm. Floating in the protoplasm are tiny dark granules, one of which is larger than the others. This bigger fellow is the nucleus, the core without which no cell can live.

In the nucleus of a living cell is a substance which dyes brilliantly. It is named the chromatin, meaning the colored stuff. In the chromatin are small bodies called the chromosomes. At certain times the chromosomes arrange themselves in a definite order. They become a chain, like a link of sausages.

This, when it happens, becomes a signal for the most important of all events in the life of a cell. This cell is about to divide into two calls, to grow end multiply. The chain of chromosomes splits lengthwise down the middle. It becomes two chains. These pull apart, ouch going to one end of the cell. The cell narrows at the waist and finally divides in two.

Each half of the old cell is now a brand new cell. It has protoplasm of its own and its chain of chromosomes gathers into a new nucleus. No new cell can grow, no multiplying is possible, unless a set of chromosomes­divides into two.

We now know that the chromosomes contain thousands of smaller factors called goner. And the genes decide how a body shall grow end what it shall be, a horse, ant, boy or girl. The _ decide whether you will be dark or fair, blue or brown eyes. They may even decide whether you will be sickly or healthy.

Most of the one‑celled animals multiply simply by dividing into two. The original set of chromosomes divided and divides with each generation. Higher plants and animals merge before they multiply. The new life begins with a single fertilized cell, a part from one parent and a part from the other. Each part brings its own chromosomes, so the now cell hgs chromo­sornes from both parents.

Genetics is the study of genes and how they control the growth end development of the body. And they work with precise order. For vnntance, the gene which orders brown eyes is strongor than the one ordering blue eyes. This is called a dominant characteristic. If there is an equal number of blue and brown eyes in the family tree, most of the children will be brown eyed. Each person's genes are an assortrment of dominant and non­domimnt characteristics handed down from countless ancestors.