The number of hydrogen bonds formed between nucleotide base pairs in DNA is dictated by their molecular structure and shape.
In the case of adenine (A) and thymine (T), the two molecules are complementary in shape, allowing them to fit together like puzzle pieces. Adenine forms two hydrogen bonds with thymine, where one hydrogen bond forms between adenine's nitrogen atom and thymine's oxygen atom, and another between adenine's hydrogen atom and thymine's nitrogen atom. This creates a stable bond between A and T.
On the other hand, guanine (G) and cytosine (C) also have complementary shapes, but they form three hydrogen bonds with each other. One hydrogen bond forms between the oxygen atom of guanine and the hydrogen atom of cytosine, while the other two hydrogen bonds form between the nitrogen atoms of guanine and cytosine. This creates a stronger bond between G and C compared to A and T.
The specific number of hydrogen bonds formed by nucleotide base pairs is crucial for maintaining the stability and structure of DNA. The strength of the G-C bond, due to the presence of three hydrogen bonds, contributes to the overall stability and integrity of the DNA molecule.
why the bond between the adenine and thymine forms 2 hydrogen bond but G-C forms 3
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