The
Boveri–Sutton chromosome theory (also known as the
chromosome theory of inheritance or the
Sutton–Boveri theory) is a fundamental unifying theory of
genetics which identifies
chromosomes as the carriers of
genetic material. It correctly explains the mechanism underlying the laws of
Mendelian inheritance by identifying
chromosomes with the paired
factors (particles) required by Mendel's laws. It also states that chromosomes are linear structures with
genes located at specific sites called loci along them.