Final answer:
The statement is false; genes being expressed are found in the less condensed euchromatin, which allows for easier access to active DNA, whereas quiescent genes are in the more condensed heterochromatin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that regions of the chromosome that contain genes being expressed are generally more compact, while those that contain quiescent genes are more generally more extended is false. In eukaryotic cells during interphase, the less condensed chromatin is known as euchromatin, which usually contains genes that are being actively transcribed. In contrast, the more condensed chromatin is called heterochromatin and typically contains genes that are not expressed.
Euchromatin has DNA packaged around nucleosomes but is not further compacted, allowing transcription factors easier access to the DNA sequences of active genes. Conversely, heterochromatin is tightly packaged, rendering the DNA less accessible for transcription and therefore gene expression. These contrasting structures play a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression and the accessibility of DNA to enzymes for transcription and replication.