Which base pairs with cytosine in Watson-Crick base pairing?

Unlock all questions

This demo includes only 20 questions. Upgrade to access hundreds of questions, flashcards, exam simulations, and disable ads.

Full question bankExam simulationsFlashcards
From $25.99Unlock all

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 pairs with cytosine in Watson-Crick base pairing?

Explanation:
Watson-Cick base pairing relies on complementary hydrogen-bonding patterns between a purine and a pyrimidine to keep the DNA double helix uniform in width. Cytosine, a pyrimidine, pairs with guanine, a purine, through three hydrogen bonds. This specific pairing provides the strongest and most stable interaction for that combination and preserves the structural geometry of the helix. In contrast, cytosine does not pair with itself, and adenine pairs with thymine (or uracil in RNA), not with cytosine. So the partner for cytosine in this canonical pairing is guanine.

Watson-Cick base pairing relies on complementary hydrogen-bonding patterns between a purine and a pyrimidine to keep the DNA double helix uniform in width. Cytosine, a pyrimidine, pairs with guanine, a purine, through three hydrogen bonds. This specific pairing provides the strongest and most stable interaction for that combination and preserves the structural geometry of the helix. In contrast, cytosine does not pair with itself, and adenine pairs with thymine (or uracil in RNA), not with cytosine. So the partner for cytosine in this canonical pairing is guanine.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy