Final answer:
Before cell division, chromatin, which is DNA and proteins, condenses into chromosomes to ensure safe DNA segregation to daughter cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prior to cell division, chromatin condenses and coils up into chromosomes. During the phases of the cell cycle, the DNA within the nucleus exists as chromatin, a grainy material comprised of DNA and proteins. As a cell prepares for division during the phase known as prophase, the chromatin undergoes significant condensation.
The process starts with DNA wrapped around histone proteins to form nucleosomes, which resemble "beads on a string." These nucleosomes coil further into a 30-nm chromatin fiber, and eventually, right before cell division, condense into the familiar X-shaped structure of chromosomes. This transformation ensures the DNA can be accurately and safely distributed to the daughter cells. The chromosome, which is the condensed form of chromatin, is composed of DNA and proteins and carries the genetic instructions necessary for the organism's development and function.