Final answer:
To conserve space, DNA is packaged into chromosomes, making it possible for a large amount of genetic material to fit within the small confines of the cell's nucleus.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to conserve space within the cell, DNA is packaged into chromosomes. This packaging is necessary because the length of DNA is vastly disproportionate to the size of the cell's nucleus. In eukaryotic cells, DNA is tightly coiled around proteins called histones, forming nucleosomes that further compact into higher-order structures to fit into the nucleus. During cell division, DNA becomes even more densely packed to form the familiar X-shaped chromosomes, each consisting of two sister chromatids joined at a centromere. It's this efficient and intricate organization that allows the cell to maintain a vast amount of genetic information in a very small space.