DNA base pairing is the specific hydrogen bonding between purines and pyrimidines in the DNA double helix, where adenine pairs with thymine and guanine pairs with cytosine. This complementary base pairing is crucial for the replication and transcription processes, ensuring genetic information is accurately copied and expressed.

DNA Base Pairing

DNA base pairing

Hydrogen bonding is a type of weak chemical bond that occurs when a hydrogen atom, covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom like nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine, experiences an attractive force with another electronegative atom. This interaction is crucial in determining the structure and properties of water, proteins, and DNA, influencing boiling points, solubility, and molecular conformation.

hydrogen bonding

purines and pyrimidines

The DNA double helix is the structural configuration of DNA, consisting of two intertwined strands that store genetic information. This structure is stabilized by hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs, enabling the replication and transmission of genetic information across generations.

DNA double helix

adenine pairs with thymine

guanine pairs with cytosine

Complementary base pairing is the specific hydrogen bonding between purines and pyrimidines in DNA and RNA that ensures accurate replication and transcription. This mechanism underlies the double helix structure of DNA, where adenine pairs with thymine (or uracil in RNA) and cytosine pairs with guanine, maintaining the genetic code's integrity.

complementary base pairing

Replication processes

transcription processes

Genetic information refers to the data encoded in an organism's DNA that determines its biological characteristics and functions. It is the blueprint for life, influencing everything from physical traits to susceptibility to diseases, and is passed from one generation to the next through reproduction.

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