Question Detail
Question
A short length of DNA molecule has 80 thymine and 80 guanine bases. The total number of nucleotides in the DNA fragment is: a. 40 b. 640 c. 320 d. 160
Correct Answer
Option C is the correct answer.
Detailed Explanation
In DNA, base pairing rules state that A=T and G≡C. If there are 80 Thymine (T), then there must be 80 Adenine (A). If there are 80 Guanine (G), then there must be 80 Cytosine (C). Total bases = A+T+G+C = 80+80+80+80 = 320. Each base is part of a nucleotide, so total nucleotides = 320.
Hint
Use Chargaff's rules: A=T and G=C. Add them all up.