An adenine base pairs with Thymine. Thymine has one ring structure and also 5 C-atoms and 4 H-atoms (if the H-atoms in the amino groups NH are ignored). Thus the ratio is 5:4. The only answer that matches with these properties is D.
Adenine pairs with thymine, 1 ring. It is a DNA base, so is deoxyribose, which has C:O of 5:4. It is D C was for ribose, which is 1:1.
Hi thank you so much for your reply! I was wondering whether we were supposed to know the structure of ribose and deoxyribose? Also what is the general formula (ch20)n for, why does it not apply here? Thanks!
Hi thank you so much for your reply! I was wondering whether we were supposed to know the structure of ribose and deoxyribose? Also what is the general formula (ch20)n for, why does it not apply here? Thanks!
The general formula applies for ribose. But the question talks about the nucleotide pairing with adenine in DNA replication, so wanted deoxyribose. Deoxyribose is ribose with 1 less O. So instead of 5 carbon and 5 oxygen, giving ribose a ratio of 1: 1, deoxyribose is 5 carbon and 4 oxygen, having ratio 5:4.
You need the know the structures. Similar to how you need to know the structures of alpha and beta glucose. But once you know ribose, deoxyribose is the exact same except instead of OH on 2’, there is just H.
The general formula applies for ribose. But the question talks about the nucleotide pairing with adenine in DNA replication, so wanted deoxyribose. Deoxyribose is ribose with 1 less O. So instead of 5 carbon and 5 oxygen, giving ribose a ratio of 1: 1, deoxyribose is 5 carbon and 4 oxygen, having ratio 5:4. You need the know the structures. Similar to how you need to know the structures of alpha and beta glucose. But once you know ribose, deoxyribose is the exact same except instead of OH on 2’, there is just H.
Ohhhhh I can’t believe I didn’t get that, thank you this makes a lot more sense!