The diagram on the right is the schematized view of the molecular devices that appear between the chromatids of a homologous pair. Lateral and central elements form and appear to "zip" the members of a homologous pair together. At this point, the mechanisms that form the synaptonemal complex are unknown. The orientation depends in part on the organization of the chromatids since short, inverted sections of chromatid disrupt the normal structure of the complex. To identify the different components click on the appropriate button below.
