Chargaff's rule states that base pairing is which of the following?

Prepare for the PLTW Biomedical Science Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question comes with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Chargaff's rule states that base pairing is which of the following?

Explanation:
In DNA, base pairing is complementary and highly specific to keep the double helix uniform and stable. Adenine pairs with thymine, forming two hydrogen bonds, while cytosine pairs with guanine, forming three hydrogen bonds. This A–T and C–G pairing pattern helps maintain the consistent width of the DNA molecule and explains why the amounts of adenine and thymine are equal and the amounts of cytosine and guanine are equal in a sample. Pairings that mix purines with purines or pyrimidines with pyrimidines would distort the helix and are not observed in natural DNA.

In DNA, base pairing is complementary and highly specific to keep the double helix uniform and stable. Adenine pairs with thymine, forming two hydrogen bonds, while cytosine pairs with guanine, forming three hydrogen bonds. This A–T and C–G pairing pattern helps maintain the consistent width of the DNA molecule and explains why the amounts of adenine and thymine are equal and the amounts of cytosine and guanine are equal in a sample. Pairings that mix purines with purines or pyrimidines with pyrimidines would distort the helix and are not observed in natural DNA.

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