Polytene Chromosomes

Typically, when a diploid cell divides, it first duplicates each of its chromosomes. Then, the cell distributes a copy of each chromosome between the two daughter cells so that each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes.

Certain cells undergo multiple cycles of chromosome duplication without undergoing any cell division. Such cells, called polyploid cells, contain multiple sets of each chromosome.

In the salivary gland cells of Drosophila larvae, this process is taken to an extreme. Here, hundreds to thousands of copies of each chromosome are generated without any cell division.

This results in the formation of unique, giant chromosomes, called polytene chromosomes.

As thousands of identical DNA sequences lay side by side, like crayons in a box, certain features in the chromatin become visible. These features exist in ordinary interphase chromosomes but are difficult to observe. 

When viewed under a microscope, an alternating pattern of dark bands and lighter interbands can be seen in the polytene chromosomes.

The bands constitute 95% of the DNA, whereas the interbands constitute 5%. 

Where the chromatin in the bands is more condensed and transcriptionally inactive,