Name:________________________________

HL 11th

Nucleosomes

Determining the packing ratio activity

 Packing ratio is defined as the length of DNA divided by the length

into which it is packaged. Use the information below to estimate

the packing ratio of:

1. A nucleosome

2. Chromosome 22 (one of the smallest human chromosomes)

Gathered Information:

 The distance between the base pairs is 0.34nm.

 There is approximately 200bp of DNA coiled around a

nucleosome.

 A nucleosome is approximately 10nm long.

 There is an estimated 5.0 x 107 total base pairs (bp) present in the

shortest human autosome (chromosome 22)

 Chromosome 22 in its most condensed (twisted)form is

approximately 2μm long.

Name:________________________________

Show your work :

1. nucleosome

2. Chromosome 22