Page 76 - The Evolution Impasse 1

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work of chance, is therefore incompatib- racteristics. The information in this
le with logic and reason. (See Primordi- “encyclopedia” is equivalent to that fo-
al soup fantasy, the.) und in a 32-volume edition of the Ency-
clopedia Britannica.
The chromosomes containing the
Chromosomes DNA molecule actually consist of much

The DNA molecule in the cell nucle- smaller special packaging systems. This
us is wrapped up in special coverings DNA molecule is first tightly surrounded
known as chromosomes (See, DNA). by special proteins known as histones,
The total length of the DNA molecule just like cotton wound round a spool.
packaged in the chromosomes in a single Those parts of the DNA attached to the
cell reaches 1 meter (3.3 feet). The total histone spools are known as the nucle-
thickness of the chromosome is 1 nano- osomes, which have been designed to
meter, or 1 billionth of a meter. The one- protect the DNA from any harm. When
meter-long (3 feet, 3 inches long) DNA nucleosomes are combined end to end,
molecule is twisted and folded into this they constitute chromatins, which cling
tiny volume. tightly to one another and fold over, for-
Inside the nucleus of every human ming dense coils. Thus it is that the
cell (except for reproduction, or germ DNA molecule is able to be squeezed so
cells) there are 46 chromosomes. If we perfectly into an area just 1 millionth of
compare every chromosomes to a book its actual length.
made up of pages of genes, then we can
Coacervates
compare the cell to a six-volume ency-
clopedia containing all a person’s cha- Alexander I. Oparin, a leading pro-

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THE EVOLUTION IMPASSE I