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Question

What is the difference between constitutive and facultative heterochromatin?


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Solution

Constitutive heterochromatin:

Heterochromatin refers to the regions of DNA in the chromosome found throughout the cell cycle.

Facultative heterochromatin:

The regions of the DNA where the genes are silenced using certain modifications are referred to as facultative heterochromatin.

Differences between constitutive and facultative heterochromatin:

Constitutive heterochromatin

Facultative heterochromatin

  1. They are mainly found around the telomeric regions and peri-centromeric regions of the chromosome.
  1. They are only activated under certain conditions and are not found throughout the cell.

2. Constitutive heterochromatin regions are visualized using the C banding technique.

2. The facultative heterochromatin is a silenced gene that is expressed only under specific conditions.

3. The constitutive heterochromatin appears to be much darkly stained.

3. DNA codes for genes that are expressed poorly.


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