complimentary base pairing allows for:
A. spontaneous mutations to occur
B. genes to be expressed as a phenotype
C. DNA to serve as its own template for replication
D. covalent bonds to form between the opposite bases
E. The equalization of the purine and pyrimidine content of DNA
Complimentary base pairing refers to the specific pairing of nucleotide bases in DNA. The four bases in DNA are adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). In this system, A pairs with T, and C pairs with G. This means that complimentary base pairing allows for the equalization of the purine (A and G) and pyrimidine (T and C) content of DNA.
The correct answer is E. The equalization of the purine and pyrimidine content of DNA.
To arrive at this answer, we need to understand the concept of base pairing and its implications. The purine bases (A and G) are larger in size compared to the pyrimidine bases (T and C). For DNA to maintain its structural integrity and stability, it is crucial to have an equal amount of purine and pyrimidine bases.
Complimentary base pairing ensures that during DNA replication, when the two strands of the double helix separate, each strand can serve as a template for the synthesis of a new complementary strand. This process guarantees that the new DNA molecule has the same base composition as the original DNA molecule.
Therefore, we can conclude that complimentary base pairing in DNA helps to equalize the purine and pyrimidine content, resulting in accurate DNA replication.
The correct answer is C. DNA to serve as its own template for replication.
Complimentary base pairing refers to the specific pairing of nucleotide bases in DNA. In DNA, adenine (A) always pairs with thymine (T), and guanine (G) always pairs with cytosine (C). This base pairing allows DNA to serve as a template for replication because during DNA replication, the two DNA strands separate, and each strand serves as a template for the synthesis of a new, complementary strand. This process ensures that each new DNA molecule retains the same genetic information as the original molecule. So, complimentary base pairing is essential for DNA replication.