Question detail
How many hydrogen bonds are formed between adenine and thymine in DNA?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Amino acids, proteins and DNA (A-level only)
Question
- A. 1
- B. 2
- C. 3
- D. 4
Answer
2
Explanation
Adenine and thymine are held together by two hydrogen bonds, which contribute to the stability of the DNA structure while allowing for the necessary flexibility for replication and transcription.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Base Pairing
Students often confuse the specific hydrogen bonds formed between complementary bases in DNA, such as pairing adenine with thymine and cytosine with guanine.
To clarify, remember that adenine (A) forms two hydrogen bonds with thymine (T), while cytosine (C) forms three hydrogen bonds with guanine (G). This can be summarized as: A-T (2 H-bonds) and C-G (3 H-bonds). Therefore, when explaining complementary base pairing, ensure to specify the number of hydrogen bonds formed between each pair.
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