How Is Dna Arranged in a Cell

At the most basic level, DNA is wrapped around proteins known as histones. The DNA wrapped around histones wraps and stacks through several additional levels of complexity. These thicker more compact structures are what you have seen before in pictures labeled “chromosomes”.

What is DNA made of and how is it arranged?

The DNA molecule consists of two strands that wind around one another to form a shape known as a double helix. Each strand has a backbone made of alternating sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate groups. Attached to each sugar is one of four bases–adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T).

How is DNA arranged in eukaryotes?

In eukaryotes, however, genetic material is housed in the nucleus and tightly packaged into linear chromosomes. Chromosomes are made up of a DNA-protein complex called chromatin that is organized into subunits called nucleosomes.