The physics behind the larger scale organization of DNA in eukaryotes

Marc Emanuel1, Nima Hamedani Radja, Andreas Henriksson

  • 1Instituut Lorentz voor de theoretische natuurkunde, Universiteit Leiden, PO Box 9506, NL-2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. emanuel@lorentz.leidenuniv.nl

Physical Biology
|July 3, 2009
PubMed

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Human DNA is almost two meters long. However, it is compressed inside a tiny nucleus measuring only a few microns in diameter. To make this degree of compaction possible, DNA is organized into several sequential levels so that it can fit into such a tiny space. The most compact form of DNA is a chromosome that can be seen under a microscope in a dividing cell.
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DNA in a human cell is almost 2m long and it is packed inside a tiny nucleus that is only a few microns in diameter. The level of compaction of DNA inside the nucleus is astonishing. It is organized into several sequentially higher levels of compaction to fit into such a tiny space. The most compact form of DNA is a chromosome that can be seen under a microscope in a dividing cell.
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The Nucleosome02:33

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DNA in a human cell is almost 2m long and it is packed inside a tiny nucleus that is only a few microns in diameter. The level of compaction of DNA inside the nucleus is astonishing. It is organized into several sequentially higher levels of compaction to fit into such a tiny space. The most compact form of DNA is a chromosome that can be seen under a microscope in a dividing cell.
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