2 Does euchromatin contain more genes than heterochromatin y

2. Does ‘euchromatin’ contain more genes than ‘heterochromatin’ (yes or no)? (10 points)

Solution

Yes.

Euchromatin is active chromatin and more prevalent in cells that are actively involved in the transcription of genes while heterochromatin (found only in eukaryotes) is compact and condensed chromatin, which is most abundant in less active or inactive cells. Abundant heterochromatin denotes inactive cell, and mostly found at the priphery of the nucleus or buried at interior of the nucleus.

Euchromatin has typically a higher gene density, thus there occurs more genes in a given length of DNA that undergo transcription.