What are nucleosomes?

What are nucleosomes?

• A. The structural unit formed when DNA winds around histones
• B. A type of enzyme that copies DNA
• C. A sugar molecule in DNA
• D. The base pair A-T

Answer: (A)

Nucleosomes are the basic packaging unit of eukaryotic DNA, formed when DNA winds around a histone protein core. About 147 base pairs of DNA wrap around a histone octamer (two copies each of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4), creating a bead-like structure. Linker DNA connects adjacent nucleosomes, and histone H1 helps stabilize higher-order chromatin folding. This arrangement compacts the genome and regulates access to genetic information during processes like transcription, replication, and repair. They are not enzymes that copy DNA, not sugar molecules in DNA, and not base pairs like A-T.

Nucleosomes are the basic packaging unit of eukaryotic DNA, formed when DNA winds around a histone protein core. About 147 base pairs of DNA wrap around a histone octamer (two copies each of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4), creating a bead-like structure. Linker DNA connects adjacent nucleosomes, and histone H1 helps stabilize higher-order chromatin folding. This arrangement compacts the genome and regulates access to genetic information during processes like transcription, replication, and repair.

They are not enzymes that copy DNA, not sugar molecules in DNA, and not base pairs like A-T.