Histones are

Options

A. a set of negatively charged acidic proteins
B. a set of positively charged acidic proteins
C. a set of negatively charged basic proteins
D. a set of positively charged basic proteins

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Histones**: Histones are proteins that play a crucial role in the organization and packaging of DNA in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells.

2. **Charge of Histones**: Histones are characterized by their positive charge. This positive charge allows them to bind tightly to the negatively charged DNA, which is composed of phosphate groups.

3. **Composition of Histones**: Histones are made up of basic amino acids, such as lysine and arginine. These amino acids contribute to the overall positive charge of the histones.

4. **Types of Histones**: There are two main types of histones:
- **Core Histones**: These include H2A, H2B, H3, and H4. They form the core of the nucleosome, which is the basic unit of DNA packaging.
- **Linker Histones**: An example is H1 (or H5), which helps in the organization of nucleosomes into higher-order structures.

5. **Conclusion**: Based on the characteristics of histones being positively charged and composed of basic amino acids, the correct answer to the question is that histones are "a set of positively charged basic proteins."

### Final Answer:
Histones are a set of positively charged basic proteins.

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