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Question
Read the passage carefully and answer the question given below.
In 1953, based on the data given by Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin, the famous double helix structure of DNA was proposed by James Watson and Francis Crick.
The distance between neighbouring base pairs in a DNA double helix is ___________.
[1 mark]
Read the passage carefully and answer the question given below.
In 1953, based on the data given by Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin, the famous double helix structure of DNA was proposed by James Watson and Francis Crick.
The distance between neighbouring base pairs in a DNA double helix is ___________.
[1 mark]
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Solution
The correct option is C 0.34 nanometer
According to the Watson and Crick model of DNA structure, DNA is composed of two antiparallel polynucleotide chains ( 5' → 3' and 3' → 5') wrapped around each other in a helical fashion.
The pitch of the DNA double helix refers to the length of one complete turn of the helix. It is 3.4 nanometers according to the Watson and Crick model of DNA structure. Each turn accommodates 10 base pairs. Thus, the distance between each base pair is 0.34 nanometer. Hence option c is correct.
Figure : The pitch of the DNA double helix
According to the Watson and Crick model of DNA structure, DNA is composed of two antiparallel polynucleotide chains ( 5' → 3' and 3' → 5') wrapped around each other in a helical fashion.
The pitch of the DNA double helix refers to the length of one complete turn of the helix. It is 3.4 nanometers according to the Watson and Crick model of DNA structure. Each turn accommodates 10 base pairs. Thus, the distance between each base pair is 0.34 nanometer. Hence option c is correct.
Figure : The pitch of the DNA double helix Suggest Corrections
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