Which type of chromatin is typically found near centromeres and telomeres and remains highly condensed throughout the cell cycle?

• A. Nucleolar chromatin
• B. Constitutive heterochromatin
• C. Euchromatin
• D. Facultative heterochromatin

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the two main types of chromatin: euchromatin and heterochromatin. Euchromatin is less condensed and transcriptionally active, while heterochromatin is more condensed and generally transcriptionally inactive.
2. Recognize that heterochromatin can be further divided into constitutive and facultative heterochromatin. Constitutive heterochromatin is always condensed and found in specific regions of the chromosome, whereas facultative heterochromatin can switch between condensed and relaxed states depending on the cell type or developmental stage.
3. Identify the typical locations of constitutive heterochromatin, which are near centromeres and telomeres. These regions remain highly condensed throughout the cell cycle to maintain chromosome stability and integrity.
4. Recall that nucleolar chromatin is associated with the nucleolus and involved in ribosomal RNA synthesis, so it is not the chromatin type found near centromeres and telomeres.
5. Conclude that the chromatin type that remains highly condensed near centromeres and telomeres throughout the cell cycle is constitutive heterochromatin.