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 and pyrimidines are the two classes of nucleobases. Purines, like adenine and guanine, have a bicyclic structure with two rings; pyrimidines, like cytosine, thymine, and uracil, have a single ring. Among the options, the base with the two-ring purine structure is adenine, which is why it is categorized as a purine. This structural difference also underlies how bases pair: purines pair with pyrimidines to keep the DNA or RNA backbone width consistent (adenine with thymine in DNA, adenine with uracil in RNA). So the base that is a purine is adenine.

Purines and pyrimidines are the two classes of nucleobases. Purines, like adenine and guanine, have a bicyclic structure with two rings; pyrimidines, like cytosine, thymine, and uracil, have a single ring. Among the options, the base with the two-ring purine structure is adenine, which is why it is categorized as a purine. This structural difference also underlies how bases pair: purines pair with pyrimidines to keep the DNA or RNA backbone width consistent (adenine with thymine in DNA, adenine with uracil in RNA). So the base that is a purine is adenine.

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