Supercoiling

Supercoiling refers to the twisting and coiling of DNA beyond its normal double-helix structure. Think of DNA like a long, thin ribbon; if you twist that ribbon into loops and coils, it becomes more compact. This supercoiling helps fit the long DNA strands into the small space of a cell's nucleus and plays a crucial role in DNA replication and gene expression. Just like organizing a tangled string, supercoiling enables the cell to manage and access genetic information efficiently.