Final answer:
Eukaryotic chromatin is composed of DNA and protein, specifically histone proteins forming nucleosomes, which are compacted into fibers during cell division.
Step-by-step explanation:
Composition of Eukaryotic Chromatin
The overall composition of eukaryotic chromatin includes DNA and protein. In eukaryotic cells, DNA forms a complex with histone proteins to create chromatin.
Chromatin is the substance of eukaryotic chromosomes both when they are in a condensed state during cell division and when they are decondensed during interphase.
The electron micrograph reveals that chromatin can exist in various states of condensation with two distinct regions: euchromatin and heterochromatin.
Euchromatin is less condensed and usually associated with fewer proteins and actively transcribed genes. In contrast, heterochromatin is more densely packed and generally contains genes that are not expressed.
Histone proteins are evolutionarily conserved and are rich in basic amino acids. They form an octamer around which DNA is wrapped, creating a structure known as a nucleosome, resembling "beads on a string."
This is further compacted into a 30 nm fiber and, during the metaphase stage of cell division, it is most compact, approximately 700 nm in width.