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Name: Sar
Status: Student
Grade:  9-12
Location: PA
Country: United States
Date: May 2005
Question:
How does DNA fit into the nucleus of a cell?


Replies:
As your question implies, if the DNA in one of your cells was stretched out, it would be over 3 feet long. The DNA is coiled around histone protein complexes called nucleosomes which effectively decreases the length of the DNA molecules (analogous to a slinky toy). The histone proteins are positively charged due to the amino acids lysine and arginine and the DNA is negatively charged due to the phosphate groups.

Ron Baker, Ph.D.


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