Page "Chromatin" Paragraph 15

The layout of the genome within the nucleus is not random-specific regions of the genome have a tendency to be found in certain spaces.

Specific regions of the chromatin are enriched at the nuclear membrane, while other regions are bound together by protein complexes.

The layout of this is not, however, well characterised apart from the compaction of one of the two X chromosomes in mammalian females into the Barr body.

This serves the role of permanently deactivating these genes, which prevents females getting a ' double dose ' relative to males.

The extent to which the inactive X is actually compacted is a matter of some controversy.