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Related Concept Videos

The Nucleolus02:55

The Nucleolus

The nucleolus is the most prominent substructure of the nucleus. When it was first discovered, it was considered to be an isolated organelle that forms fibrils and granules. In 1931, the relationship between the nucleolus and chromosomes was first described by Heitz. He observed that the appearance and size of nucleolus varies depending on the stage of the cell cycle. He also noticed constricted regions on different chromosomes clustered together at definite cell cycle stages. These regions,...
The Nucleolus02:55

The Nucleolus

The nucleolus is the most prominent substructure of the nucleus. When it was first discovered, it was considered to be an isolated organelle that forms fibrils and granules. In 1931, the relationship between the nucleolus and chromosomes was first described by Heitz. He observed that the appearance and size of nucleolus varies depending on the stage of the cell cycle. He also noticed constricted regions on different chromosomes clustered together at definite cell cycle stages. These regions,...
The Nucleus01:32

The Nucleus

The nucleus is a membrane-bound organelle that acts as a control center in a eukaryotic cell. It contains chromosomal DNA, which controls gene expression and precisely regulates the production of proteins within the cell. In contrast, the DNA inside the mitochondria and chloroplast only carries out functions that are specific to those organelles.
Arrangement of DNA within Nucleus
The regulation of gene expression inside the nucleus is dependent on many factors, including the DNA structure. The...
The Nucleus01:25

The Nucleus

The nucleus is a membrane-bound organelle that acts as a control center in a eukaryotic cell. It contains chromosomal DNA, which controls gene expression and precisely regulates the production of proteins within the cell. In contrast, the DNA inside the mitochondria and chloroplast only carries out functions that are specific to those organelles.
Arrangement of DNA within Nucleus
The regulation of gene expression inside the nucleus is dependent on many factors, including the DNA structure. The...
The Nucleus01:25

The Nucleus

The nucleus is a membrane-bound organelle that acts as a control center in a eukaryotic cell. It contains chromosomal DNA, which controls gene expression and precisely regulates the production of proteins within the cell. In contrast, the DNA inside the mitochondria and chloroplast only carries out functions that are specific to those organelles.
Arrangement of DNA within Nucleus
The regulation of gene expression inside the nucleus is dependent on many factors, including the DNA structure. The...
Additional Subnuclear Structures02:10

Additional Subnuclear Structures

The eukaryotic nucleus is a double membrane-bound organelle that contains nearly all of the cell’s genetic material in the form of chromosomes. It is rightly called the “brain” of the cell as it shoulders the responsibility of responding to various physiological processes, stress, altered metabolic conditions, and other cellular signals. 
The nucleus contains many membrane-less subnuclear organelles or nuclear bodies, such as nucleoli, Cajal bodies, speckles, paraspeckles, etc. These nuclear...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Peering at Brain Polysomes with Atomic Force Microscopy
08:49

Peering at Brain Polysomes with Atomic Force Microscopy

Published on: March 16, 2016

The nucleolus.

Thoru Pederson1

  • 1Program in Cell and Developmental Dynamics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, 01605, USA. thoru.pederson@umassmed.edu

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
|November 26, 2010
PubMed
Summary

The nucleolus, historically viewed as a simple nuclear structure, is now understood as the primary site for ribosomal RNA synthesis and ribosome assembly. Modern research reveals its complex, multifunctional role in cellular processes.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cytology

Background:

  • The nucleolus, a prominent cell structure visible under phase contrast microscopy, was first described in the mid-19th century.
  • Its cytogenetic significance was established a century later with the identification of its specific chromosomal locus.

Observation:

  • Early isolation of nucleoli occurred in the 1950s from starfish oocytes.
  • Key discoveries in the 1960s identified the nucleolus as the site of ribosomal RNA synthesis and ribosome biogenesis.

Findings:

  • The nucleolus is the central hub for ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis and the assembly of nascent ribosomes.
  • This function highlights the nucleolus as a critical site of gene expression and cellular function.

Implications:

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Last Updated: Jun 6, 2026

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  • The nucleolus is repositioned from a mere nuclear anatomical feature to a dynamic center of gene action.
  • Contemporary research has unveiled the nucleolus as a plurifunctional organelle, marking a significant paradigm shift in cell biology.