nucleosome The fundamental unit of chromatin, the material of which eukaryotic chromosomes are made. It consists of a core of histone proteins around which are coiled about 160 base pairs of DNA. Consecutive nucleosomes are joined by uncoiled linker DNA, like beads on a string. This string is coiled into a 30 nm diameter solenoid, which undergoes further coiling in the fully condensed chromosome.

nucleosome A particle, approximately 10nm in diameter, that is found in large numbers in isolated chromatin. Nucleosomes are thought to consist of a piece of DNA wound around the outside of a core of 8 histone molecules.

nucleosome A particle, approximately 10 nm in diameter, found in large numbers in isolated chromatin, where groups of histone molecules combine with and strengthen DNA strands.