Asked in Premeth past paper pool — BiologyModerate

Nucleosome is a structural unit of a eukaryotic chromosome that consists of:

Correct answer: C. A length of DNA coiled around a core of histones

  • A. An octamer of histone proteins
  • B. A length of RNA coiled around a core of histones
  • C. A length of DNA coiled around a core of histones
  • D. Two polypeptide strands connected by histone protein

Explanation

A nucleosome is the fundamental unit of chromatin structure in eukaryotic cells. It consists of a segment of DNA wrapped around an octamer of histone proteins. This arrangement helps in the compact packaging of DNA within the chromosome. Option C is correct because it accurately describes this structure. Option A is incorrect because it only mentions the histone octamer without the DNA component. Option B is incorrect as it refers to RNA instead of DNA, which is not part of the nucleosome structure. Option D is incorrect because it describes polypeptide strands, which are not components of a nucleosome.

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About Chromosomes

Chromosomes are DNA-protein structures that carry genes and become visible during cell division. Coverage includes chromatin, centromeres, sister chromatids, homologous chromosomes, chromosome number, and the distinction between diploid and haploid cells, with links to DNA replication, mitosis and meiosis.

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