Final answer:
The covalent modifications of histones can influence chromatin condensation and decondensation, ultimately affecting gene expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The covalent modifications of histones can result in chromatin condensation or decondensation depending on which group is attached to the proteins.
These modifications, such as histone acetylation, methylation, and phosphorylation, can influence the accessibility of the DNA and ultimately affect gene expression.
For example, acetylation of histones tends to unwind nucleosomes and open the DNA for transcription, while methylation can open DNA for transcription or suppress transcription.