“DNA makes up only half of the material inside chromosomes – far less than was previously thought – a study has revealed.
Up to 47 per cent of their structure is a mysterious sheath that surrounds the genetic material, researchers say.
While the precise function of this sheath is unknown, researchers suggest it may keep chromosomes isolated from one another during the key process of cell division.
Researchers say this so-called chromosome periphery could help to prevent errors from occurring when cells divide – a hallmark of some forms of cancer and diseases associated with birth defects”.
http://m.phys.org/news/2016-11-chromosome-dna.html
