Functional DNA Molecules in Cells Typically Exhibit

Question

Functional DNA molecules in cells typically exhibit:
A) Positive supercoiling
B) Negative supercoiling
C) Positive relaxation
D) Negative relaxation
E) None of these

Accepted Answer

Functional DNA molecules in cells typically exhibit negative supercoiling, meaning that the DNA molecule is twisted in a way that relieves the strain caused by overwinding. This negative supercoiling is important for many cellular processes, including replication, transcription, and recombination. Positive supercoiling or relaxation would disrupt these processes and potentially cause errors or damage to the DNA molecule.