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Regina's Biology Blog

By Regina Bailey, About.com Guide to Biology since 1997

The Nucleus

Saturday November 1, 2008
Nucleus with Nuclear Pores
© Dennis Kunkel
The nucleus is the control center of a cell. It contains the cell's hereditary information (DNA) and controls the cell's growth and reproduction.

The nucleus also controls the synthesis of ribosomes and proteins in the cytoplasm.

Looking at the nucleus from under an electron microscope, it appears as a distinct, circular object enclosed in a membrane. This membrane, called the nuclear envelope, separates the contents of the nucleus from the cytoplasm.

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