Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
An analysis of double-stranded DNA from a bacterium shows that of its bases are adenine. Use Chargaff's rules to find the percentage of thymine, of guanine and of cytosine. Then find the ratio of (A + T) to (G + C).
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. Thymine. A pairs with T, so T .
Step 2. G and C. is left for G and C together. They are equal, so each is .
Step 3. Ratio. .
Answer: T , G , C , and a ratio of .
Check. Purines: . Pyrimidines: . They are equal, as they should be.
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