Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A stretch of double-stranded DNA has 50 base pairs, and of the base pairs are G-C pairs. Find the number of A-T pairs, the number of G-C pairs and the total number of hydrogen bonds between the two strands.
In double-stranded DNA, A pairs with T and G pairs with C. So , and . An A-T pair has 2 hydrogen bonds and a G-C pair has 3. A strand of nucleotides has phosphodiester linkages. A chain of nucleotides has a molar mass equal to the sum of the nucleotide residues plus one water.
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. G-C pairs. .
Step 2. A-T pairs. .
Step 3. Hydrogen bonds. .
Answer: 20 A-T pairs, 30 G-C pairs and 130 hydrogen bonds.
Check. If every pair were A-T there would be bonds. Each G-C pair adds one, and .
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