The chromosome of an E. coli cell has a contour length of about 1.7 mm. How does this compare to the length of the E. coli cell itself?
Explanation
This question highlights the extreme compaction required to fit a very long chromosomal DNA molecule into a tiny bacterial cell. The length of the E. coli chromosome is orders of magnitude greater than the cell's dimension.
Other questions
According to the modern biochemical definition, what constitutes a gene?
What are the nontranslated DNA segments that interrupt the coding sequences within many eukaryotic genes called?
What are the sequences at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes that help stabilize them?
What is the general repeated sequence form for telomeres in eukaryotic chromosomes?
What term describes the further coiling of the DNA double helix axis upon itself?
What is the linking number (Lk) of a relaxed, closed-circular DNA molecule that is 3,150 base pairs long, assuming 10.5 base pairs per turn?
What is the superhelical density (sigma) of a closed-circular DNA with Lk₀ = 200 and Lk = 190?
Which type of topoisomerase changes the linking number (Lk) of DNA in increments of 1 by breaking a single DNA strand?
What is the primary difference between plectonemic and solenoidal supercoiling?
What are the five major classes of histone proteins found in eukaryotic cells?
The bead of each nucleosome core contains which combination of histone molecules?
In a typical nucleosome, approximately how many base pairs of DNA are bound tightly around the histone core?
What is the primary function of cohesin proteins in eukaryotes?
Which histone is typically found bound to the linker DNA between nucleosome beads?