Which term describes the process of compacting DNA?

The term that describes the process of compacting DNA is supercoiling. Supercoiling is a mechanism that allows long strands of DNA to be condensed into a more compact structure, which is essential for fitting the DNA into the small spaces of a cell's nucleus. This process involves the twisting of the DNA strand upon itself, creating additional coils that help in managing the physical space that DNA occupies. Supercoiling occurs naturally in cells during DNA replication and transcription and is also used in various laboratory techniques to manipulate DNA for research purposes.

This compacting is necessary because the uncondensed form of DNA, when stretched out, can be extremely long. Through supercoiling, the DNA remains organized and can be efficiently accessed by the cellular machinery for processes such as replication and gene expression.