Question

What are histones and chromatin?

Answer 1

Chromatin :

1. In eukaryotic cells, chromatin is a combination of RNA, DNA, and protein.
2. Its primary job is to package very long DNA molecules into a tighter, compact form, preventing the strands from becoming tangled.
3. It also plays an important role in DNA strengthening during cell division, avoiding DNA damage, and modulating gene expression and DNA replication.
4. Chromatin aids in the precise separation of chromosomes during anaphase in meiosis and mitosis; the usual forms of chromosomes evident at this stage are the result of DNA being looped into extremely condensed systems of chromatin.

Histones:

1. Positively charged amino acid residues make up these. They're called nuclear proteins.
2. They wrap DNA and provide ribosome access to DNA.
3. They also help in chromatin compaction, nucleosome dynamics, and transcription.
4. They combine to produce nucleosomes. By wrapping together in a spiral configuration, these nucleosomes create a solenoid.
5. They can be found within the cell's nucleus (eukaryotic organisms). They combine ionically with DNA to generate nucleoproteins.