The long strands of DNA fit into the nucleus of a single cheek cell because they are wrapped and compacted through their association with histone proteins.
- DNA is a double helix molecule composed of two long chains of nucleotides.
- In eukaryotic cells, the genetic material (DNA) is associated with histone proteins in order to be wrapped and compacted into the cell nucleus.
- Within the cell nucleus, the DNA is arranged into compacted structures called chromatin fibers.
- The nucleosomes are the basic units of compaction of the chromatin fibers.
- A nucleosome is composed of an octamer of histones (two subunits of the histones H2A, H2B, H3 and H4) and approximately 147 base pairs of DNA.
In conclusion, both long strands of DNA fit into the nucleus of a single cheek cell because they are wrapped and compacted through their association with histone proteins.
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