Question

What is the significance of complementary base pairs?

Answer 1

Complementary base pairing:

1. A complementary base is either of the two nitrogen-containing sections of a nucleotide that bond together to connect strands of DNA or RNA.
2. Significance of complementary base pairs:

• Complementary base pairs enable the prediction of the sequence of one strand if the sequence of bases in the other strand is known.
• Complementary base pairing is important in DNA as it allows the base pairs to be arranged in the most energetically favourable way.
• It is essential in the formation of the helical structure of DNA.
• It is also essential in replication as it allows semiconservative replication.
• Complementarity allows information found in DNA or RNA to be stored in a single strand.