The total mass of DNA in the body is 50.0 g. If the number of nucleotides in ONE STRAND of DNA is approximately 3.0 x 106, and the average length of a single nucleotide is 0.34 nm, what is the length (in km) of one strand of DNA when it is stretched out to its maximum length (not in a helix)?
To find the length of one strand of DNA when it is stretched, we need to calculate the total length of all the nucleotides in the DNA strand.
First, let's find the total number of nucleotides in both strands of DNA. Since each strand of DNA is a complementary copy of the other, the total number of nucleotides in the DNA double helix is twice the number of nucleotides in one strand.
Total number of nucleotides = 2 x Number of nucleotides in one strand
Total number of nucleotides = 2 x 3.0 x 10^6 = 6.0 x 10^6 nucleotides
Next, let's find the total length of all the nucleotides. The length of one nucleotide is given as 0.34 nm.
Total length = Total number of nucleotides x Length of one nucleotide
Total length = 6.0 x 10^6 nucleotides x 0.34 nm
Before we proceed to calculate the length in kilometers, we need to convert the length from nanometers (nm) to kilometers (km) since the question asks for the length in km.
1 km = 10^6 nm
Total length (in km) = (Total length (in nm)) / (10^6)
Substituting the values into the equation, we get:
Total length (in km) = (6.0 x 10^6 nucleotides x 0.34 nm) / (10^6 nm)
Total length (in km) = 2.04 km
Therefore, the length of one strand of DNA when it is stretched out to its maximum length (not in a helix) is approximately 2.04 km.