The quantity of DNA is usually measured by picogram (1 pg = 10-12g). One picogram amount of DNA CONTAINS about a stretch of 31 cm DNA double helix. So, if the weight of the DNA PRESENT in the nucleus can be measured, its length can be calculated easily.
It has been estimated that each human diploid cell contains 5.6 pg of DNA, which is equivalent to 173.6 cm in length (Dupraw and Bahr, 1968). Likewise, a diploid cell of TRILLIUM contains 37.2 m double stranded DNA equivalent to 120 pg by weight. The polytene chromosome of DROSOPHILA contains 293 pg of DNA, which is equivalent to 90.83 m in length.