stein@dhw68k.cts.com (Rick Stein) (12/21/88)
I happen to be watching the "Mac-Neil/Leherer News Hour" on Tuesday
and they had a piece on the Human Genome Project. The background
discussion showed some electron micrographs of the human chromosomes.
I'm curious to know why the DNA material is "stored" in this conformation
as opposed to some other topology. Presumably, there is some "glue protein"
which forces the genetic material into this shape. Does anyone know what
they call this "glue?"
It seems that a great deal of energy is consumed by the cell while the
mitosis process takes place and the "X" and "Y" shapes might be more
energetically efficient if they appeared as "O" or long strands.
Is it true that human genomes only appear in the condensed form just
priori to mitosis and that the genetic material is primary in string
form during the post and pre-mitosis phases of cell life?
Any references to the conformation process would be most helpful.
--
Rick 'Transputer' Stein ( My mother was a clairvoyant. :-) )
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