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Where is DNA located in eukaryotic cells?
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Nucleic acid
A portion of the polynucleotide chain of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), with an inset showing the corresponding pentose sugar and pyrimidine base in ribonucleic acid (RNA).
In eukaryotic cells, DNA is primarily located within the nucleus, where it is organized into chromosomes and associated with proteins to form chromatin.12
However, DNA is also found outside the nucleus in specific organelles located in the cytoplasm, a form known as extranuclear or cytoplasmic DNA:3
- Mitochondria: Found in most eukaryotic cells, these organelles contain their own unique circular DNA, which encodes genes involved in energy production and mitochondrial protein synthesis.453
- Chloroplasts: Present in plant cells, these organelles also contain circular DNA that carries genes related to photosynthesis and organelle-specific activities.43
Additionally, some eukaryotes may contain small, circular extrachromosomal DNA molecules known as plasmids, which can exist independently within the cell.23