Mathematical model for satellite associations of human acrocentric chromosomes.

Short arms, satellite stalks and satellites of human acrocentric chromosomes (13, 14, 15, 21 and 22) represent heterochromatic regions. Enforced by mutual attraction of heterochromatic regions, the short arms of acrocentric chromosomes come close to each other and compose associations. The associations of human acrocentric chromosomes cause nucleolus formation, undergo age-related changes, account for elevated incidence of chromosome rearrangements and, consequently, can cause chromosome diseases.