Final answer:
The statement is false; histones are rich in lysine and arginine, which enable them to bind the negatively charged DNA.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that histone proteins have a lower than average number of lysines and arginines in their polypeptide chains is false. Histones are actually basic proteins that are rich in lysine and arginine amino acids. These positively charged amino acids are essential for histone proteins to bind to the negatively charged DNA. The DNA wraps around an octamer of histone proteins to form a structure known as the nucleosome, which further coils into a more condensed form called the 30nm solenoid. The presence of lysine and arginine provides the positive charge necessary for histones to interact with the acidic, negatively charged phosphodiester backbone of the DNA molecule.