Question

What are chromatids and how do they differ from chromosomes

Answer 1

Chromatids are only called as chromatids when they are sister chromatids, meaning that when chromosome have two double stranded DNA attached together, each of the double stranded DNA is a sister chromatid, and while the whole thing (the two sister chromatids that are attached together) is called a chromosome.

So after the DNA has been replicated, the chromosome consist of 2 sister chromatids, attached to each other at their centromere.

Overall, sister chromatid is one of the two double stranded DNA in a replicated chromosome, and chromosome is the whole "X" shape that we see. For example, in humans, after the S phase of interphase in the cell cycle, we have 46 chromosomes, with 92 chromatids, since each chromosome is an "X" shape, by having two sister chromatids.

Hope this helps!