Overview: Chromosomes have structure, determined by the interactions of proteins with DNA, and chromosomes have functions, in particular, replication of DNA and transcription of messenger RNA. Chromosome structure and function are not separate topics, since chromosome organization pro foundly influences the activity of the genome in replication and transcrip tion. This is especially clear for higher cells, including human cells, in which chromatin fibers are created by the binding of histone proteins to the DNA, and folding of the fibers produces mitotic chromosomes and interphase nuclei. Th
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