CAM-Nucleus

thingiverse

The nucleus is a tiny, bean-shaped cell structure located at the center of every eukaryotic cell. Its primary function is to store and protect the cell's genetic material, or DNA. The nucleus is surrounded by a double membrane called the nuclear envelope, which regulates what enters and leaves the nucleus. Within the nucleus lies chromatin, a complex mixture of DNA and proteins that makes up chromosomes. Chromatin is coiled into tight bundles called nucleosomes, which are further wrapped around histone proteins to form higher-order structures known as chromatin fibers. The nucleus also contains small organelles called nucleoli, which produce ribosomal RNA (rRNA) essential for protein synthesis. This process occurs outside the nucleus, where ribosomes assemble amino acids into polypeptide chains. Regulatory elements within the nucleus, such as enhancers and promoters, control gene expression by interacting with transcription factors that bind to specific DNA sequences. These interactions ultimately determine which genes are turned on or off in a cell. Nuclear pores allow for selective transport of molecules between the nucleus and cytoplasm, maintaining cellular homeostasis and ensuring proper communication between different cellular compartments.