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The cell nucleus contains nearly all of the cell's genome. Nuclear DNA is often organized into multiple chromosomes – long strands of DNA dotted with various proteins, such as histones, that protect and organize the DNA. The genes within these chromosomes are structured in such a way to promote cell function.
A study of the comparative genomics, evolution and origins of the nuclear membrane led to the proposal that the nucleus emerged in the primitive eukaryotic ancestor (the “prekaryote”), and was triggered by the archaeo-bacterial symbiosis. [24] Several ideas have been proposed for the evolutionary origin of the nuclear membrane. [25]
The nucleolus (/ nj uː ˈ k l iː ə l ə s, ˌ nj uː k l i ˈ oʊ l ə s /; pl.: nucleoli /-l aɪ /) is the largest structure in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. [1] It is best known as the site of ribosome biogenesis.
A human cell has genetic material contained in the cell nucleus (the nuclear genome) and in the mitochondria (the mitochondrial genome). In humans, the nuclear genome is divided into 46 linear DNA molecules called chromosomes, including 22 homologous chromosome pairs and a pair of sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome is a circular DNA ...
The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is a crucial cellular structure with a diameter of approximately 120 nanometers in vertebrates. Its channel varies from 5.2 nanometers in humans [14] to 10.7 nm in the frog Xenopus laevis, with a depth of roughly 45 nm. [15]
Each human cell contains around two metres of DNA, which must be tightly folded to fit inside the cell nucleus. However, in order for the cell to function, proteins must be able to access the sequence information contained within the DNA, in spite of its tightly-packed nature. Hence, the cell has a number of mechanisms in place to control how ...
Histones prevent DNA from becoming tangled and protect it from DNA damage. In addition, histones play important roles in gene regulation and DNA replication. Without histones, unwound DNA in chromosomes would be very long. For example, each human cell has about 1.8 meters of DNA if completely stretched out; however, when wound about histones ...
The nucleus is surrounded by a double membrane known as the nuclear envelope, with nuclear pores that allow material to move in and out. [26] Various tube- and sheet-like extensions of the nuclear membrane form the endoplasmic reticulum , which is involved in protein transport and maturation.