What holds sister chromatids together during cell division?

During cell division, sister chromatids are held together at a specific region called the centromere. The centromere is a constricted area on the chromosome that serves as the attachment point for the spindle fibers, which are responsible for pulling the chromatids apart during the anaphase stage of mitosis and meiosis. The ability of the centromere to securely hold the sister chromatids together is crucial for ensuring that each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes. This function of the centromere is essential for maintaining genetic stability during cell division.

The other options refer to different components of the cellular machinery involved in division but do not serve the same role. For instance, centrioles are involved in organizing the spindle apparatus but do not hold sister chromatids together. Chromatin refers to the complex of DNA and protein that makes up chromosomes, while spindle fibers are the structures that actually separate the chromatids but do not hold them together.