Question detail
What is the role of hydrogen bonds in DNA structure?
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. To form the sugar-phosphate backbone
- B. To stabilize the double helix structure
- C. To link amino acids in proteins
- D. To provide energy for replication
Answer
To stabilize the double helix structure
Explanation
Hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs stabilize the double helix structure of DNA, allowing it to maintain its shape while enabling the separation of strands during 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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