What are coiled DNA structures associated with proteins called?

Coiled DNA structures associated with proteins are referred to as chromosomes. These structures are vital during cell division, as they ensure that DNA is accurately replicated and distributed to daughter cells. Each chromosome consists of a single DNA molecule and proteins, chiefly histones, that help package and condense the DNA into a compact form. This packaging is essential not only for fitting the large amount of DNA into the cell nucleus, but also for regulating the accessibility of the DNA for processes such as transcription and replication.

When looking at the other terms, genes refer to specific sequences of DNA that encode for proteins or functional RNA, while chromatids are the two identical halves of a replicated chromosome that are joined together at a region called the centromere until they are separated during cell division. Nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA and RNA, consisting of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base, but they do not represent a coiled structure. Thus, chromosomes is the most accurate term for describing the coiled DNA associated with proteins.