Biology & 3D Animation Library

How DNA is Packaged (Advanced)

Each chromosome consists of one continuous thread-like molecule of DNA coiled tightly around proteins, and contains a portion of the 6,400,000,000 basepairs (DNA building blocks) that make up your DNA.
(DNAi location: Genome > Tour > Chromosome close-up > 3D Animation chromosome coiling)

Duration: 1 minutes, 42 seconds

In this animation we'll see the remarkable way our DNA is tightly packed up to fit into the nucleus of every cell. The process starts with assembly of a nucleosome, which is formed when eight separate histone protein subunits attach to the DNA molecule. The combined tight loop of DNA and protein is the nucleosome. Six nucleosomes are coiled together and these then stack on top of each other. The end result is a fiber of packed nucleosomes known as chromatin. This structure, is then looped and further packaged using other proteins (which are not shown here) to give the final "chromosomal" shapes. It is this remarkable multiple folding which allows six feet of DNA to fit into the nucleus of each cell in our body. And a typical cell nucleus is so small that ten thousand could fit on the tip of a needle. It is important to realize that chromosomes are not always present, they form only when cells are dividing. At other times, as we can see here at the end of cell division, our DNA becomes less highly organized.

nucleosome; histone; chromatin; chromosome; metaphase; anaphase; telephase; cell division; mitosis; nucleus continuous thread,cell division mitosis,chromosome,narration,building blocks,nucleus,molecule,dna,proteins,labels,animation

This animation is available on YouTube .

Related Content

15484. DNA packaging, 3D animation with sound effects only

DNA packaging, 3D animation with sound effects only

  • ID: 15484
  • Source: DNALC.DNAi

15483. DNA packaging, 3D animation with basic narration

DNA packaging, 3D animation with basic narration

  • ID: 15483
  • Source: DNALC.DNAi

16229. All cells arise from pre-existing cells.

DNAFTB Animation 7: Walther Flemming explains the phases of mitosis.

  • ID: 16229
  • Source: DNALC.DNAFTB

16627. DNA is packaged in a chromosome.

DNAFTB Animation 29: Roger Kornberg explains his work with Aaron Klug on histones, which bind DNA to form chromatin.

  • ID: 16627
  • Source: DNALC.DNAFTB

16238. Sex cells have one set of chromosomes; body cells have two.

DNAFTB Animation 8: Theodor Boveri presents chromosomes' role in development.

  • ID: 16238
  • Source: DNALC.DNAFTB

15893. Zooming in on the x chromosome.

Each chromosome consists of one continuous thread-like molecule of DNA coiled tightly around proteins, and contains a portion of the 6,400,000,000 basepairs (DNA building blocks) that make up your DNA.

  • ID: 15893
  • Source: DNAi

16626. Concept 29: DNA is packaged in a chromosome.

Each chromosome is a package for one very long, continuous strand of DNA.

  • ID: 16626
  • Source: DNAFTB

16235. Biography 7: Walther Flemming (1843-1905)

In 1882, Walther Flemming published the definitive study of the cellular process of mitosis.

  • ID: 16235
  • Source: DNAFTB

16645. DNA is packaged in a chromosome.

DNAFTB Problem 29: Test your understanding of chromosome packaging.

  • ID: 16645
  • Source: DNALC.DNAFTB

16228. Concept 7: All cells arise from pre-existing cells.

An overview of the discovery of cell division, mitosis.

  • ID: 16228
  • Source: DNAFTB