Histone

Definition

Histones are proteins found in the nuclei of eukaryotic cells that package and order the DNA into structural units called nucleosomes. They play a crucial role in gene regulation and DNA replication, repair, and recombination.

Related terms

Nucleosome: The fundamental unit of chromatin, consisting of a segment of DNA wound around eight histone proteins.

Chromatin:

The complex of DNA and proteins, mainly histones, that make up the chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell.

Gene regulation: The process by which cells control the expression of their genes to respond to various environmental signals or developmental cues