Automated chemical synthesis of DNA has made it possible to custom-order moderate length DNA sequences from commercial suppliers. Assume that a single nucleotide weighs about 5.6 X 10^-22 grams and that there are four kinds of nucleotides. If you wish to order all possible DNA sequences of a fixed length, at what length will you order exceed

Question

Automated chemical synthesis of DNA has made it possible to custom-order moderate length DNA sequences from commercial suppliers. Assume that a single nucleotide weighs about 5.6 X 10^-22 grams and that there are four kinds of nucleotides. If you wish to order all possible DNA sequences of a fixed length, at what length will you order exceed 
a) 100 kg and
b) the mass of the Earth (5.9736 X 10^24 kg)?

Mr. Kwok · Answer

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