Which bases are purines?

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

Which bases are purines?

Explanation:
Purines are a category of nitrogenous bases with two-ring structures. In DNA and RNA, the bases fall into purines and pyrimidines. The purines are adenine and guanine, each featuring a double-ring system. The other bases—thymine and cytosine in DNA (and uracil replacing thymine in RNA)—are pyrimidines and have a single ring. The two purines pair with the pyrimidines through hydrogen bonds: adenine pairs with thymine (or uracil in RNA), and guanine pairs with cytosine. So the bases that are purines are adenine and guanine.

Purines are a category of nitrogenous bases with two-ring structures. In DNA and RNA, the bases fall into purines and pyrimidines. The purines are adenine and guanine, each featuring a double-ring system. The other bases—thymine and cytosine in DNA (and uracil replacing thymine in RNA)—are pyrimidines and have a single ring. The two purines pair with the pyrimidines through hydrogen bonds: adenine pairs with thymine (or uracil in RNA), and guanine pairs with cytosine. So the bases that are purines are adenine and guanine.

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