Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Question:

Which among the following are seen as ‘beads-on-string’ structure when viewed under electron microscope ?

Options:

Histone only .

DNA only .

The nucleosomes .

None of these .

Correct Answer:

The nucleosomes .

Explanation:

The "beads-on-a-string" structure refers to the appearance of chromatin when viewed under an electron microscope. This structure is created by the wrapping of DNA around histone proteins, forming nucleosomes. So, the correct answer is option (3) - The nucleosomes. 

In eukaryotes, there is a set of positively charged, basic proteins called histones. A protein acquires charge depending upon the abundance of amino acids residues with charged side chains.

Histones are rich in the basic amino acid residues lysine and arginine. Both the amino acid residues carry positive charges in their side chains. Histones are organised to form a unit of eight molecules called histone octamer.

The negatively charged DNA is wrapped around the positively charged histone octamer to form a structure called nucleosome . A typical nucleosome contains 200 bp of DNA helix. Nucleosomes constitute the repeating unit of a structure in nucleus called chromatin, thread- like stained (coloured) bodies seen in nucleus. The nucleosomes in chromatin are seen as ‘beads-on-string’ structure when viewed under electron microscope.