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Chromatin history: our view from the bridge

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 4, pages 809–814 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Thirty years ago, our conception of chromatin structure underwent a total metamorphosis as the nucleosome era began. In Kurosawa's classic movie 'Rashomon' (1951), each participant had a different perspective of the same pivotal event. This review outlines our perception of history.

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Figure 1: A fanciful view of chromatin structure.
Figure 2: Superhelical models of chromatin.
Figure 3: A gallery of electron micrographs of chromatin.
Figure 4: A chromatin scientist.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to Bowdoin College and to the German Cancer Research Center (Heidelberg) for providing stimulating intellectual and scientific environments. H. Herrmann and P. Lichter, our generous hosts at the German Cancer Research Center, supplied helpful comments on the manuscript. Several anonymous referees made significant contributions towards the improvement of this essay. The authors dedicate this review to the memory of H. G. Davis (formerly at the Department of Biophysics, King's College, London), an excellent microscopist and our good friend.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, 04101, Maine, USA

    Donald E. Olins & Ada L. Olins

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  1. Donald E. Olins
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  2. Ada L. Olins
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Related links

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DATABASES

LocusLink

H2A

H2B

H3

H4

HMGN1

HMGN2

lamin A

lamin B1

lamin B2

LBR

OMIM

Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy

Pelger–Huët anomaly

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Olins, D., Olins, A. Chromatin history: our view from the bridge. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 4, 809–814 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm1225

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