What Makes Up a Nucleosome?

What are the components of a nucleosome?

a) DNA and scaffolding proteins

b) scaffolding proteins and histones

c) DNA and histones

d) DNA, histones, and scaffolding proteins

e) histones only

Answer:

A nucleosome consists of a segment of DNA wound around eight histone proteins. Therefore, the correct answer is c) DNA and histones.

A nucleosome, a fundamental structural unit of chromatin, consists of DNA and histones. This means the correct answer to your question is c) DNA and histones.

In detail, the nucleosome includes a segment of DNA wound around eight histone proteins, forming a 'bead-like' structure. This arrangement is fundamental to the compaction of DNA within the cell nucleus.

Scaffolding proteins play a crucial role in the further compaction and shaping of chromosomes, but they are not part of the nucleosome itself.