In order for an enormous length of DNA to fit into a tiny cell, it must be condensed. This is accomplished in a series of steps. First, the double helix is wound around groups of eight histone protein molecules. The resulting configuration resembles...

Heterochromatin is a tightly packed form of DNA. Its major characteristic is that transcription is limited. As such, it is a means to control gene expression, through regulation of the transcription...

Gene function is subjected to the effects of surrounding chromatin. The nature of these effects may be epigenetic occurring in some cells, but not others, of the same genetic background. Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms remain an enigma, but recent studies have provided informative insights into...

Key words. Coreidae, holokinetic chromosomes, C-banding, fluorescent-banding, karyotype evolution, fluorescent in situ hybridization, rDNA Abstract. Heterochromatin is one of the most dynamic components in the genome of species. Previous studies on the heterochromatin content and distribution in Heteroptera (insects with holokinetic chromosomes) have...