Final answer:
In eukaryotes, DNA is tightly wrapped around proteins called histones, forming nucleosomes that compact the DNA to fit inside the nucleus, resulting in a 'beads on a string' structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
In eukaryotes, DNA is wrapped around proteins known as histones to form structures called nucleosomes. These histones are essential for the compacting of DNA within the nucleus, allowing the long DNA molecules to fit inside the cell’s nucleus. Histones are evolutionarily conserved proteins that are abundant in basic amino acids and form an octameric core around which DNA is tightly coiled. This formation gives the appearance of “beads on a string” when viewed under a microscope. The DNA-histone complex (nucleosome) is further compacted into a 30 nm fiber, which can further condense during the metaphase stage of cell division to approximately 700 nm in width, making up the dense metaphase chromosome structure.
eukaryotes, the DNA is wrapped around histones to form structures called nucleosomes. Histones are proteins that are rich in basic amino acids and form an octamer core around which the DNA is tightly wrapped. This compact structure allows the long DNA molecule to fit inside the nucleus of the eukaryotic cell.