Which base is a purine?

Study for the Biochemistry Module 6 Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions; each question includes hints and explanations. Gear up to ace your test!

Multiple Choice

Which base is a purine?

Explanation:
Purines are bases that have two rings in their structure, making them larger than the other group, the pyrimidines, which have a single ring. Adenine is one of the two purines (the other being guanine). The remaining choices—thymine, cytosine, and uracil—are all pyrimidines with only one ring. So the base that fits the description of a purine is adenine. (In DNA thymine pairs with adenine, while in RNA adenine pairs with uracil, but the chemical classification stays: adenine is a purine.)

Purines are bases that have two rings in their structure, making them larger than the other group, the pyrimidines, which have a single ring. Adenine is one of the two purines (the other being guanine). The remaining choices—thymine, cytosine, and uracil—are all pyrimidines with only one ring. So the base that fits the description of a purine is adenine. (In DNA thymine pairs with adenine, while in RNA adenine pairs with uracil, but the chemical classification stays: adenine is a purine.)

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