Chromatin condensation involves multiple levels of organization. Initially, DNA wraps around histone proteins to form nucleosomes, which resemble "beads on a string." These nucleosomes further fold into a 30-nanometer fiber. During cell division, this fiber undergoes further compaction to form the characteristic structure of chromosomes. Various proteins, such as condensins and cohesins, along with chemical modifications like histone methylation and acetylation, regulate these higher-order structures.
