The table below shows the percentages of bases in a DNA sample. How much Thymine (T) should you expect to find in the sample?
a
22%
b
24%
c
28%
d
44%
In DNA, Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T) and Guanine (G) pairs with Cytosine (C). Therefore, the percentage of Adenine is equal to the percentage of Thymine, and the percentage of Guanine is equal to the percentage of Cytosine.
From the given table, we see the percentages of the four bases, but none of them are labeled as Thymine directly. However, since Adenine pairs with Thymine, we need to match the percentages to their corresponding base pairs.
Here's what we can deduce from the percentage values:
- If 'a' is Adenine with 22%, then Thymine would also be 22%.
- If 'b' is Adenine with 24%, then Thymine would also be 24%.
- We know that 'd' cannot be Adenine, as Thymine (which would be theoretically paired with 'd') would need to have the same percentage, and there is no corresponding 44%.
- 'c' is likely Guanine or Cytosine, not Adenine or Thymine, as none of the other percentages match it for a base pair.
Without additional context, it's impossible to definitively determine what each letter stands for in terms of the DNA bases. However, given that Thymine should be present in the same amount as Adenine, it would either be 22% if 'a' stands for Adenine, or 24% if 'b' stands for Adenine.
If additional information is provided indicating which letter corresponds to which base, a more precise answer could be given. Otherwise, the expected amount of Thymine in the sample would be based on a matching percentage to either 'a' or 'b', assuming those could represent Adenine.